If you’re looking for a deer-resistant plant, give Gloriosa Daisy a try.
By Diann Arington
Gloriosa daisy, Rudbeckia hirta, is a native plant. I want to share some things I’ve learned from this beauty! They grow from 12-36” tall with a clumping but upright habit and have a coarse texture. The blooms began showing up in early June. I’m told they will bloom June through September with the right conditions. They should be spaced about 1foot apart, and they abundantly reseed themselves.
Like many of our natives, Gloriosa Daisy is drought-tolerant after established. They prefer the warmer temperatures (lucky them!), and they don’t require a lot of fertilizer.
Mine were planted in a mixture of topsoil and some good ole compost from our compost bins! I water them each morning unless we get rain. Rudbeckia grows well in full sun but tolerates partial shade. It is a deer-resistant plant.
If you prefer, you can collect the seeds from your Gloriosa daisies and plant them next spring where you want them. Simply collect the deadheaded flowers and let them continue to dry. Remove the seeds from the dried flower head by rubbing them with your thumb until they fall off. Store them in a dry location until you’re ready to plant. And, of course, you can grow them in seed trays.
Diann Arington volunteers with Garland County Master Gardeners of the UofA Div. of Agriculture, Cooperative Ext. Service. Master Gardeners pool skills and resources to improve home horticulture, stimulate interest in plants and gardening, and encourage beautification.
