1588 



RUDBECKIA 



RUDBECKIA 



RUDB£CKIA (after the two Professors Rudbeck, 

 father and son, predecessors of Linnaeus at U-psala). 

 Compdsiice. Cone-flower. As defined by Gray (Syn. 

 Flora N. Amer., 1886), Rudbeckia is a genus of 21 spe- 

 cies of North American herbs, many of which are hardy 

 and perennial, bearing in summer showy fls. which usu- 



The only full double form, apparently, is Rudbeckia 

 Golden Glow, which has had great popularity since 

 1896. The origin of this great favorite seems to be un- 

 known. About 1894 John Lewis Childs found it among 

 some plants sent by correspondents. See Gng. 6:370. 

 For the structure of the Rudbeckia inflorescence, see 

 Fig. 829, Vol. IL ^ ji 



The Cone-flowers are of easy cultivation in almost any 

 soil and situation, from a semi-shady position to one in 

 full sun. Most of the species are found inhabiting 

 moist locations, but thrive well in the garden under the 

 ordinary methods of cultivation, although i?. lacinlata 

 and its double form, Golden Glow, do much better if 

 abundantly supplied with moisture, i?. hirta, our 

 Black-eyed Susan, — sometimes called by the children 

 out west "Nigger-heads,"— will thrive in the driest, 

 hottest situation, where 

 many others would fail. 



The best known as a gar- 

 den plant, and probably 

 the showiest, is Golden 

 Glow, which the under- 

 signed considers 

 the best perennial 

 of recent intro- 

 duction. If cut 

 back severely 

 when through 

 blooming and 

 well watered, it 

 often produces a 



^213. Rubus invisus, the cul- 

 tivated form known as 

 Bartel Dewberry. 



See Rubiis, page 1586. 



ally have yellow rays, though in one species (H. atro- 

 rubens) the rays are all dark crimson, and in the other 

 species the rays are occasionally more or less covered 

 with purple-brown towards the base. Under Rudbeckia 

 are'often included in nursery catalogues certain plants 

 which Gray refers to Echinacea and Lepachys. These 

 three genera form an interesting floricultural group. 

 Rudbeckia and Lepachys are typically yellow-fld. genera, 

 while Echinacea contains a few forms with fls. ranging 

 from flesh color and rose-purple to crimson. The chaff 

 of the receptacle is usually persistent in Rudbeckia and 

 deciduous in Lepachys. 



Among the hardy herbaceous species, there are sev- 

 eral with striking habit and distinct foliage. There is a 

 wide range of color among wild plants of the same spe- 

 •cies, and specimens with the brown-purple color at the 

 base should be sought for. The rays may be few or 

 many, sliort and broad or long and narrow, toothed in 

 various ways, star-like or making a continuous limb, 

 drooping or horizontal, and always set off by the disk, 

 which may be purple, black or yellowish, high and col- 

 ■■umnar or low and roundish. The season of bloom could 

 *be extended. The flowers of many of the kinds are ex- 

 cellent for cutting. 



2215. An original specimen of Rubus trivialis in Michaux's 

 herbarium at Paris. About 14 natural size. Page 158G. 



2214. Leaf of Rubus invisus, showing 

 the simple teeth (X 73). 

 See Jiubus, page 1586. 



second crop of flowers. Autumn Glory will be well 

 liked when better known. It is fine for massing and 

 has a much longer blooming period than Golden Glow, 

 commencing earlier and continuing until frost. It re- 

 sembles H. nitida, but is taller and blooms longer. 



H. triloba is one of the very best, and, while a 

 biennial, perpetuates itself through self-sown plants. 

 It forms a dense twiggy Vnish somewhat over three feet 

 high and nearly as broad if kept moderately well 

 watered, and much smaller if in a dry situation. These 

 plants may be used with effect as a border to a large 

 bed of hybrid delphiniums, as the latter will towt r 

 above them and bloom in their young state. By the 

 time the delphiniums are cut down for their second 

 flowering the Rudbeckias hide their untidiness and are 

 in their prime, l)ut later on may be pulled up to again 

 expose the delphiniums. An effective fall-flowering 

 group may be formed by using the lighter-colored flower 

 forms of Hibiscn.'! Syriacvs — such as Totus albus. Lady 

 Stanley, and Elegantissima— for a center or back- 

 ground, and interspersing groups of the taller Rud- 

 beckias (except Golden Glow, which is too tall and 

 spreading) and boltonias next to them. In front of 

 these place ii'. x/x'riosa and Jf. triloba, with the blue 

 form of Aco>ntiiin IVapellus, and for a border use L'. 

 bicolor,Yax. sirperba , placed well to the front to be pulled 

 up when its bloom is past. This group will give color 

 from July until frost. The allied plant Echinacea pur- 

 purea and E. angustifolia are well adapted for grouping 

 in open bays in shrubby borders, as their flowers are ex- 



