Coneflower
Chim Chiminee Rudbeckia is a whimsical departure from the classic black-eyed Susan, with petals that are hand-dipped in rustic golds and delicately quilled for a texture unlike any other rudbeckia. This frost-hardy cultivar thrives in zones 9-10 as a perennial, though it grows beautifully as an annual elsewhere, reaching 24 to 30 inches tall and blooming from summer through fall. Starting from seed, you'll see flowers in 84 to 112 days, and the plants attract pollinators while shrugging off drought once established.
Full Sun
Moderate
9-10
30in H x 18in W
Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Moderate
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The quilled, dip-dyed petals in rustic gold tones set this variety apart from typical black-eyed Susans, creating blooms so intricate and textured they look handcrafted. These flowers excel in both fresh arrangements and landscape borders, and they're tough enough to handle heat, drought, and poor soil without fussing. Deer leave them alone, pollinators love them, and once they're established, they need very little water to keep performing all summer and fall.
Chim Chiminee Rudbeckia shines as a cut flower for arrangements, where its quilled petals and unusual coloring create visual interest that standard rudbeckia cannot match. In the landscape, it functions as a sturdy, long-blooming accent plant for mixed borders, cottage gardens, and pollinator-focused plantings.
Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date. Keep soil at 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, cover containers with a humidity dome to retain moisture, and expect germination in 7 to 14 days. Surface sow and firm seeds lightly; they require light to germinate, so do not bury them.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. In zones 8 and warmer, you may direct sow after frost danger ends. Harden off indoor-started seedlings gradually before moving them to their final location.
In zones 8 and warmer, direct sow after all danger of frost has passed. Surface sow seeds on lightly firmed soil in full sun.
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