I grow quite a few rudbeckias from seed and treat them as annuals. They are a breath of fresh air in the garden when they begin blooming in late July. By then most of my other flowers are starting to look a little ragged.
One cultivar I always include in my garden is Rudbeckia hirta ‘Chim Chiminee’. The two-foot-tall plants have interesting quilled petals in shades of yellow, orange and brown.
‘Chim Chiminee’ has occasionally survived winter for me in Zone 5 and can be grown as a perennial in Zones 6-9.
I sow my seeds indoors 12 weeks before planting time in spring, but you can also find plants for sale online and in garden centers.
Rabbits sometimes nip the plants and occasionally a plant will develop wilt and shrivel up on me, but for the most part ‘Chim Chiminee’ thrives and adds an interesting flair to the late summer garden.