Rudbeckia hirta 'Autumn Shades'

coneflower

• Position: full sun
• Soil: moderately fertile, preferably heavy but well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: July to October
• Other features: mid-green leaves
• Hardiness: half hardy
  
  Rich, rustic shades of red, orange and yellow, make these daisy-like flowers, which can grow up to 15cm across, particularly eye-catching. They are very free-flowering, and are perfect for filling gaps in a sunny, well-drained border or containers.
  
  
• Garden care:Using seed trays and good seed compost, sow from late winter to mid spring, just covering the seed. Keep moist but not wet and maintain temperatures at 18-20°C. Transplant when large enough to handle into individual pots and grow on in cool conditions before hardening off and planting outside. Dead-heading will prolong the flowering season, but let some of the last flowers develop seed heads as this will attract birds into the garden in winter.
  
  
• Sow: February-April
  
  
• Flowering: July-October
  
  
• Approximate quantity: 100 seeds.