Rudbeckia triloba ‘Prairie Glow’
£4.95
Rudbeckia triloba ‘Prairie Glow’
A wonderfully vibrant late-summer perennial, covered in masses of warm, two-tone flowers as the garden begins to move into autumn.
‘Prairie Glow’ produces an abundance of small daisy-like flowers in glowing shades of burnt orange, rusty red and golden yellow, each surrounding a dark central cone. Its warm colouring is particularly striking in late-summer planting, and the flowers are loved by bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Left standing, the dark seed heads also provide attractive structure later in the season.
Best grown in full sun in reasonably fertile, well-drained soil. ‘Prairie Glow’ has a naturally branching, slightly informal habit, producing lots of flowers rather than a few large blooms. It works particularly well in prairie-style and naturalistic planting, where its warm colours can mingle amongst grasses and airy perennials. It can be relatively short-lived, but may self-seed where it is happy.
Specifications
Height: Approx. 90–120cm
Spread: Approx. 45–60cm
Flowering: July–October
Position: Full sun
Soil: Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil
Habit: Upright, branching and bushy
Hardiness: Hardy, but can be short-lived
Wildlife: Excellent for bees, butterflies and other pollinators
Maintenance: Deadhead to prolong flowering, or leave some seed heads for autumn and winter interest
🌿 Note for Isle of Wight planting
A brilliant choice for extending colour in Island gardens well beyond the main summer display. Give it a sunny position and some moisture while establishing. Once growing strongly it is fairly resilient, although it will flower best where the soil does not become completely parched.
🌿 Ideal Companion Plants from The Green Standard Range
Panicum ‘Straight Cloud’ – airy upright foliage provides the perfect backdrop and allows the fiery flowers to shine through.
Verbena ‘Bampton’ – its purple-flushed foliage and tiny pink flowers soften the strong orange and gold tones beautifully.
Salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’ – deep plum-purple flowers provide a rich contrast to the warm Rudbeckia colouring.
Achillea ‘Terracotta’ – carries the rusty orange tones through the planting for a warm, harmonious combination.
Pennisetum ‘Red Head’ – smoky, dark flower heads add movement and depth alongside the glowing late-summer flowers.
🌟 The Green Standard Tip
‘Prairie Glow’ looks at its best when allowed to mingle rather than planted as a single isolated specimen. Repeat it through grasses and darker-flowered perennials to create a loose, naturalistic display that really comes into its own from late summer onwards.