Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'

Rudbeckia are one of the top ten perennials of many gardeners. 'Goldsturm' form a bushy, upright clump with a profuse display of flowers. This compact form of the yolk-yellow black-eyed Susan growing to just 60cm (24in) is short enough not to need staking and with strong stalks, it never flops. It blooms well even in partial shade as long as it gets ample moisture. An excellent cut flower and a great choice for mass planting.

This variety has an incredibly long flowering season, from mid-summer right through to the middle of autumn when the first severe frosts arrive. It thrives in a wide range of climatic zones and succeeds in almost any soil and situation from semi-shade to full sun; it will tolerate quite severe conditions, including clay soils and moderate periods of drought.
Easily raised from seed and a very easy-care plant, It does not spread so fast that frequent division is necessary. Use it between other plants in a flower border to extend the flowering season late into the year.

Rudbeckias are versatile plants that add bright sunny colour to perennial beds, mixed borders and containers. They can be used alone in mass plantings, as a border, or along a fence. Ideal for attracting wildlife, bees and butterflies are drawn to their colourful flowers while the ripe coneheads provide seed during the autumn and winter to feed hungry birds, especially finches.
Ideal for bouquets and arrangements, rudbeckia flowers stay fresh and colourful up to 21 days after being cut. The dried coneheads add interesting shape and texture to everlasting arrangements and crafts.
...and let’s not forget that black-eyed Susan is the classic flower for determining the essence of true love.
The petals are perfect for answering the eternal question ... “she loves me, she loves me not, she loves me.”

• Awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit
  Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
• The Plant of the Year.
  And to inflate this plant’s ego even further, it was selected by the Perennial Plant Association as the 1999 Perennial Plant of the Year.

Sowing:
Sow late winter to late spring - February to July or in late summer to autumn - August to October
Seeds are best sown indoors in pots or trays containing a good seed compost. ‘Just cover’ the seed with vermiculite or sieved compost and place in a propagator or warm place maintaining an optimum temperature of 18-20°C (65-70°F) Keep the compost moist but not wet at all times. Germination should occur between 10 to15 days.
If there is no germination in 3 to 4 weeks remove to a cold area for 4 weeks, -4 to 4°C (24 to 39°F) then place back in the warmth, this should trigger germination.

Thin to 7.5cm (3in) pots when seedlings have developed 2 proper leaves and are large enough to handle. Remember to handle the seedling by the leaves only, supporting the weight of the seedling under the roots as you transplant.
Harden off by gradually acclimating to outdoor conditions for 10 to15 days before planting out into their permanent positions in spring. Plants transplant well and should be spaced 30 to 45cm (12-15in) apart

Cultivation:
To extend flowering and prevent self-sowing, deadhead the spent flowers, this also makes for a tidier-looking plant. However, there are advantages if the old flowers are left alone, the cones have ornamental appeal after the petals have dropped, birds enjoy the seeds in the winter; and you will enjoy the benefits of seedlings next spring.
Divide plants from in September to March

Plant Uses:
Cottage/Informal Garden, Flower Arranging, Flowers Borders and Beds, Wildflower Gardens or Wildlife Gardens.

Origin:

There are about 25 species of Rudbeckia, all native to North America. The Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is closely related.
Rudbeckia is one of at least four genera within the flowering plant family Asteraceae whose members are commonly known as coneflowers; the others are Echinacea, Dracopis and Ratibida.

Nomenclature:
This premier group of plants was given its Latin designation in 1740 by famed botanist Carl von Linné, better known as Carl Linnaeus. The genus name Rudbeckia honored Linnaeus’s botany professor, Olaf Rudbeck, and Rudbeck’s father who had founded the botanical garden at Uppsala University in Sweden. Linnaeus told Rudbeck that “so long as the earth shall survive, and each spring shall see it covered with flowers, the Rudbeckia will preserve your glorious name.”

Goldsturm was introduced by Karl Foerster of Potsdam, Germany in 1937 after being spotted by his employee, German plantsman Heinrich Hagemann at Gebrueder Schuetz’s nursery in the Czech Republic. The development and release of which was delayed for many years by World War II. He named the plant ‘Goldsturm’, which means ‘Golden Storm’ in German, no doubt referring to its masses of flowers with pale gold petals.
The species name ‘fulgida’ means ‘brilliant’, ‘shiny’ or ‘glittering’ in Latin.
The varietal name 'sullivantii' was named for William Starling Sullivant, a 19th century American bryologist.(Bryology is the branch of botany concerned with the scientific study of bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, and hornworts). Sullivant became the leading expert on mosses and liverworts of his time. Many bryophyte species he discovered carry the abbreviation Sulliv. after their Latin name.