Rudbeckia Flower

Common Names: Black-Eyed Susan, Orange Coneflower
Origin: USA
Cultivation: Partial shade to full sun
Colors: Bright Yellow, Orange, Red
Bloom Time: June to September
Uses: Ornamental uses
Regions: Northern regions of India, North America

Cultivation of Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia needs a partially shaded to full sunlight position for good flowering healthy plants. Plants grow in areas of low light tend to be stunted and produce few flowers. Flowers are watered thoroughly and allowed to dry moderately between watering. Plants that are kept slightly moist seem to perform better. Established plants are quite drought tolerant. Plant them in a free draining media. Mixing compost into poor or impoverished soil improves their drainage.

Drying of Rudbeckia
Flowers are selected just before they are fully opened. Then put an inch of drying or desiccating material at the bottom of the container. The best material is silica gel. Then cut the flower stem to about a half an inch and stick this into the center of the material to hold the flower. Then, pour the material along the perimeter of the container, building up a continuous mound of about an inch. The set the microwave according to the type of oven. Flowers in silica gel take about two and a half minute to dry.

Uses of Rudbeckia
Dried rudbeckia is widely used for ornamental an decorative purposes. Dried delights preserve these flowers for use in arrangements, wreaths and swags. They are also dried for use as tea's or extracts. Tea from dried leaves has been used as a kidney stimulant. Dried root tea's is used to treat cold. They are also used to help heal burns.