Zone 5b, Upper Peninsula Michigan. My rudbeckia seemed like they died early this year, last year the lasted longer. I planted a start last spring and they flowered last year. I have them in a container with a purple coneflower start that I put in this year, and I planted some snapdragons to keep it colorful while the coneflower establishes.
Any idea why they may have died is what Im here for. I watered them pretty regularly but did get married in sept and go on a honeymoon for a week so it may have gotten more sporadic for awhile there.
Do the leaves look normal?
by moonweasel906
3 Comments
While we wait for an answer (as I’m pretty new to native gardening), mine died off earlier than usual this year, presumably due to the dry weather (in Indiana), but I was relieved to learn in this subreddit that as long as the root ball still has life, it will come back. I’m trimming off the dead parts and leaving them in the garden bed, stalks and all, for wildlife cover, mulch, and seeds for the critters also hoping any unclaimed seeds will sprout in the spring. 🌱
I failed to grow it from seeds this year so can’t say from personal experience. But in our neighborhood (MA) I do observe other people’s rudbeckia looking similar to yours!
Rudbeckia hirta that starts blooming early in the season peters out and dies when done flowering. Some of mine are still blooming; others died a month ago. You may be able to prolong blooming with frequent dead-heading.