I haven’t grown ‘Chim Chiminee’ rudbeckias for years. Rabbits would decimate any rudbeckias I tried to grow, but my husband finally put a fence around my annual beds. Now that they can be protected, I decided to try ‘Chim Chiminee’ again.
I forgot how much I love the spiky petals on these cheery plants. And compared to all the rudbeckia cultivars I grew this summer and have grown in the past, these handle humid, wet conditions like a champ.
As a bonus, I have spotted a lot of pollinators sipping nectar from the brown centers this summer.
The flowers bloom in shades of gold, orange and bronze and reach 24 to 30 inches tall in full sun to partial-shade.
They are technically tender perennials, but in my growing zone (5b) they are best grown as annuals.
If you’re looking for something that adds a little flair to a flowerbed but also attracts pollinators, give ‘Chim Chiminee’ a try!