Autumn Colors Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta 'Autumn Colors')
rud-BEK-ee-ah HER-tah 'Autumn Colors'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Bushy, Free-Branching in the Asteraceae Family
A fast, free-flowering seed strain in warm autumn tones — bronze, mahogany, gold, and burnt-orange blooms on a compact, floriferous plant.

'Autumn Colors' is a Benary seed strain of Black-Eyed Susan bred for a warm, autumn-themed color palette — bronze, mahogany, gold, and burnt-orange rays, each about 6 inches across, around a dark central cone. Like the species, it's a short-lived perennial or biennial that blooms heavily its first year from an early sowing, which is why it's grown and sold here as a fast, reliable annual bedding plant. Plants form a bushy, free-branching clump and bloom continuously from midsummer into fall.

Pros

  • Warm autumn color mix on one plant
  • Long bloom season
  • Deer and rabbit resistant
  • Attracts pollinators

Cons

  • Short-lived; best treated as an annual
  • Benefits from deadheading to prolong bloom
  • Can self-seed
Highlights

A Benary-bred seed strain combining several warm autumn shades — bronze, mahogany, gold, and orange — in one planting, each flower held on a compact, floriferous plant.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 12 - 24 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium :

Drought-tolerant once established.
Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Fall Annuals, Full Sun, Low Maintenance, Medium, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Showy Flowers
Bloom Period Midsummer to Frost
Flower Color Bronze, Mahogany, Gold, and Orange Rays
Foliage Color Medium Green
 

In The News
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Ornamental grasses, Sedum, Aster, and other fall-blooming perennials for a seasonal autumn display.

Photos of This with...

Arrow Magenta Snapdragon, Arrabona Red Celosia, Las Vegas Mix Globe Amaranth, Fireworks Variegated Red Fountain Grass, Red Hot Sally II Scarlet Sage,
 
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 08/10 - 09/20
2024 : 07/18 - 09/21
2023 : 08/02 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!