Rudbeckia ‘Chim Chiminee’ has been absent from the seed catalogs for about 5 years. Now it has suddenly reappeared. Some seed companies are throwing around the word “new” which is a little confusing. It’s not a new cultivar—I’m quite certain because I’ve grown it. Perhaps it’s new and improved or a new patent or it’s new to a company’s inventory, but it’s not new.
‘Chim Chiminee’ has spiky (quilled) flower petals in shades of orange, gold and brown and grows 24 to 30 inches tall. It’s actually a short-lived perennial that can be grown as an annual. Some rudbeckia cultivars occasionally survive winter (good luck this year!). I can usually count on a few ‘Autumn Colors’ volunteers to appear each spring, and I have had some success with overwintering ‘Chim Chiminee’ plants. As a perennial, the cultivar is hardy in Zones 5-9.
Rudbeckias prefer average soil in full sun to part-sun. The flowers start appearing later in the summer. The plants don’t really have any insect pest problems, but rabbits will certainly “trim” them back if given the chance.
I like planting these flashy-petaled plants next to zinnias or purple or red salvias.