While there have been quite a few new rudbeckias introduced in the last several years, I still enjoy older cultivars like ‘Indian Summer.’
‘Indian Summer’ grows 36 to 42 inches tall in sun or partial shade with huge golden-yellow flowers.
I have good luck with ‘Indian Summer’ overwintering in my garden. Like other rudbeckias, it starts blooming a little later in the summer when something new is a refreshing change.
For quite a number of years I had a clump of ‘Indian Summer’ plants that returned every year (or sent up volunteers) without fail. Eventually the flowers started to mutate. One year I noticed that some of the flowers were displaying brown patches around their eyes. Others bloomed as doubles. Eventually some of them started to get green eyes or have stunted petals. That’s when I decided I should probably start over with a new batch of plants.
I sprout ‘Indian Summer’ from seed indoors about 10-12 weeks before the last frost. I’ve also seen them readily available at garden centers.
‘Indian Summer makes a great back-of-the-border plant. I like to pair them with red zinnias or purple butterfly bushes.
