Rudbeckia hirta

‘Sahara’

SAHARA SHADES CONEFLOWER

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Sahara’
SAHARA SHADES CONEFLOWER

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Sahara’ produces the most subtle blends of beautiful colours.

Unique blends of dusty desert sunset colours

Subtle colour blends of cappuccino coffee, chocolate, copper, antique rose and rich old wine – all blending subtly across the velvety petals.
With each flower being a unique melt of all the colours like a dusty desert sunset.

Chocolate cones & velvety petals

With velvety petals shading from a prominent chocolate central cone to sunset tips.

Stunningly large & velvety flowers

The flowers are also astonishingly large – up to 12-18cm. across, absolutely smothering a small, compact bush of only 50cm. high.

Covered with flowers for months

These large daisies are abundant all over summer and autumn.
And borne in such profusion that the small bush is covered in colour for months.
While hairy blue-green, broad leaves make a beautiful colour contrast in a low foliage clump (if you can see it between the flowers).
Flowers begin in early summer, and continue until the first frost of winter.

Great cut flowers

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Sahara’ is also a superb floristry flower when cut for a vase or bouquet.
As well as a star in the garden with it’s velvety soft colouring, and exceptionally long flowering season.
The stems on ‘Sahara’ are long enough for medium size vases and arrangements.

Picking blooms for best vase life

For floristry – the blooms of Rudbeckia hirta ‘Sahara’ should be cut just as the flowers begin to open.
Then splash a little bleach into the vase water.
Then they have a very handy vase-life of up to 10 days.

Abundant & long blooming in pot, garden or field

‘Sahara’ also makes a spectacular feature pot, because of the constant, abundant long blooming, and neat compact growth.
So it is always tidy, and covered with bloom from early summer right through into winter.

Bee & bird friendly

Our friends the bees, native birds, and other useful pollinators flock to the nectar-rich flowers.
And if you leave the seed heads over winter – they provide great feed for native finches etc.

Rabbit & Deer resistant

Fortunately the plant is largely untroubled by harmful pests and diseases.
Even rabbits and deer leave it low on their list of menu choices.

Water-wise & easy to grow

Plant Rudbeckia hirta ‘Sahara’ in Sun to Part Shade.
Where it is hardy in heat, dry & frost.
And obligingly it also tolerates a wide range of soils, including sandy or clay.
So Rudbeckia hirta is valued as a water-wise plant, and makes a spectacular addition to gardens where water is rationed, or for making pot displays.
It is ridiculously easy to grow in the garden, and unbelievably quick and easy to raise from seed.

Low maintenance

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Sahara’ forms a delightfully coloured, long blooming, and low maintenance clump.
50cm. High and absolutely covered with flowers x 40cm. Wide rounded bushy foliage.

Quick & easy to grow from seed

Rudbeckia hirta is a self sowing biennial.
So even though each plant only lasts for two years, it reliably self sows a new crop of babies and a procession of flowers each year. Providing you leave some flower heads to go to seed each year of course.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suitable for beginners and gardening with kids

Sow seeds of Rudbeckia hirta ‘Sahara’ at any time of year in a punnet indoors / or scatter the seed directly in the garden in spring or autumn.

Sow indoors for quick & early plants: First sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then gently press the seeds onto the surface of the mix to ensure good contact.
And barely cover seed with sieved mix, because these seeds need light for germination.

Now thoroughly moisten the mix by standing the sown punnet in a shallow water bath.
So the moisture percolates up through the mix from below.
Soak for a short time until moisture appears on the surface of the mix, and then drain.
As the mix needs to be remain moist but not wet.

Then place the punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in direct sun).
Temperatures of 18-21°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.
You can use a temperature controlled heat mat if you have one, but it is not essential.

And continue to keep the punnet moist by using a spray water bottle, or re-soaking in the water bath, as required.
Adding a clear plastic cover also helps to retain even moisture.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 10-15 days.

Seed Count: 5 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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