RUDBECKIA `LITTLE GOLDSTAR`

Let’s face it, there are few more loved and more used plants in the garden that Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’, the Black Eyed Susan everyone knows and loves. The reality is that this much loved garden staple has some problems that can be a bit of a letdown from sparse bloom to form that can be a bit open and gangly. ‘Little Goldstar’ is a new selection that is vastly superior to ‘Goldsturm’ with a dense, uniform, compact size, strong flower stems and a propensity to bloom that makes ‘Goldsturm’ look like a slacker! Its tight, rounded form coats itself with flower buds in mid July that open to form an umbrella of foliage obscuring, 2.5″ diameter flowers with dark center cones surrounded by sharply pointed bright golden yellow rays from late July through September. The incredible bloom show far outshines that of ‘Goldsturm’ on a plant that takes up far less space while still having the attracting power for butterflies and birds that is such a Rudbeckia bonus. ‘Little Goldstar’ loves full sun and will thrive grouped in the ground or used in a mixed container on a deck or patio