This late 'Daisy' is a delight

Rudbeckias help prolong the summer’s glory, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

RUDBECKIA hirta, also known as black-eyed susans and coneflowers, are beloved for the way they deliver late summer and early autumn colour.

Half-hardy perennials, they need lifting and overwintering undercover in most areas of the UK, so are most commonly grown as half hardy annuals and composted when they start to fade as autumn progresses.