Rudbeckia

[caroline7758]

I have a clump of Rudbeckia nitida which got very lanky in the early hot weather and then keeled over in the wet. (Yes, I should have staked it earlier, I know). It now looks a mess because I have put in some stakes but a lot of the stems are bendy. If I cut it back now, or some of it, is there a chance it will flower again this year?

[caroline7758]

[valmarg]

If it looks a mess, then the best thing to do with it is cut it back.  Most perennials 'come back' to give a later flowering.  It may be a bit late this year, but 'nothing ventured, etc'.  On balance I would cut it back.

valmarg

[Amazin]

My osteospermums went a bit mad earlier in the season so I chopped 'em - now they've gone mad again. Give it a go, you've nothing to lose and (if we get a decent bit of weather) quite possibly a second flourish to gain!

;D

[caroline7758]

Thanks- think I'll hedge my bets and cut back the worst bits and leave some of the better bits!

[saddad]

Now that's something we never have any luck with Caroline!
:-[

[yorkssteve]

I have another really weird rudbeckia problem. I planted a year-old normal rudbeckia, with yellow petals and a black centre. Now into its 2nd year, a seedling developed next to the original plant. Everything about it resembles the original rudbeckia - except it's got pale blue petals! The original plant has just started flowering yellow, like last year.

Anyone got any idea what's happened?

[saddad]

 ??? that's a no not really!

[Palustris]

A picture would be nice. If it stays blue and it is a Rudbeckia, then it is a whole new colour break for the species and worth growing on very carefully.

[yorkssteve]

Pictures are now on my profile. Looks more white today than blue.

The original plant was a Goldstrom, incidentally.