I got sunshine, on a cloudy day: Rudbeckia fulgida var sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’

Truly, if there was ever a flower to give you sunshine on a cloudy day, Rudbeckia fulgida var sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’ must be it.

This flower glows even through the night; I can see it through the heavy frosting of our bathroom window!

I did try cutting some for the house, but found they didn’t like being in a vase. Something this strong needs the outside, it seems.

I discovered that one flower has some petals coming through it’s central cone. A type of fasciation I believe.

Fasciation literally means banded or bundled. Scientists aren’t sure what causes the deformity, but they believe it is probably caused by a hormonal imbalance. This imbalance may be the result of a random mutation, or it can be caused by insects, diseases or physical injury to the plant. Think of it as a random occurrence. It doesn’t spread to other plants or other parts of the same plant. Source: Garden Know How

It’s happy in my heavy acid clay, and after only a year in the ground, is clumping up very nicely. I’ve notice bees and butterflies are attracted to it’s charms too.

Flowering from late summer through autumn, this Rudbeckia gives me sunshine every day, even through autumn storms.