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Should I dead head perennial Rudbeckia Fulgida?

Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
in Plants
I usually leave my perennial rudbeckias but I was wondering should I deadhead them and will they grow more flowers? I usually leave them for seeds for the birds and I had a very big garden and didn't have time. Now that I have a smaller garden and have time to dead head should I dead head them or leave them?
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
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  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    If you still have new flowers forming, you could deadhead the older ones now and leave the new ones to flower and overwinter without deadheading.  This way you get fresh flowers and can still provide seed for the birds and some winter interest. I've just done this with some Heleniums.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I don't think they flower a second time, or at least that is my excuse for never dead heading them, plus I quite like the seed heads.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I wouldn't deadhead either, seedheads are part of the winter garden. Also food for birds.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Thank you.

    I dead head the heleniums, just done it again,  as they always produce new flowers. There are no new buds on the rudbeckias, I wondered if they would make new flowers if I deadheaded them but, from what you both say, I don't think there will be. They've lasted a long time, July and August.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited September 2023
    I still have some new flower buds forming on my Rudbeckia.  Perhaps it differs with the variety of R. fulgida.  Might be worth experimenting on one plant to see what happens! They should flower until October, depending on soil and conditions.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I agree with Heleniums they do need deadheading to bring on the new flowers. They don't die gracefully so not a keeper for the winter. However they often form a neat rosette of green at the base so these I would cut back.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I've been deadheading my Heleniums @GardenerSuze, they are still flowering well.  I've been meaning to thank you for mentioning in one of your posts a while ago that Heleniums don't like drying out at the roots. This year, I've been keeping them well watered and they have flowered from mid June and are still going strong with new buds.  In previous years they lasted about 4 weeks. Thank you!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited September 2023
    @Plantminded I don't know which ones you grow. To me there is one that is very special Helenium Sahin's Early Flowerer. Bred by dutchman Kees Sahin it has a RHS AGM. Each flower is different in tones of gold, orange and almost red.
    I must have sold dozens of pots of it over the years when a friend opened her garden.
    If I had a top ten of plants this would be in it for sure. Most of the others would be grasses of course but great combinations with late daisies including Rudbeckias.
     
    H Moerheim Beauty I have always found to be more difficult, hates competition from plants around it. It can just disappear over winter perhaps that is due to an absence of light on new emerging leaves, my theory no one elses. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Sahin’s Early Flowerer is the one I grow @GardenerSuze.  It’s my favourite perennial, almost in the same league as my grasses!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Plantminded I am not at all surprised! Great taste!   
    For anyone planning a summer border this has to be included.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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