Toto Lemon Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta 'Toto Lemon')
rud-BEK-ee-ah HER-tah 'Toto Lemon'
Deciduous Perennial Compact, Mounded, Bushy in the Asteraceae Family
'Toto Lemon' is a dwarf, compact selection from the Benary Toto series of Rudbeckia hirta, bred for container and small-space use. Its lemon-yellow daisy-form flowers, about 3in across, surround a large chocolate-brown cone. Like other R. hirta selections, it is botanically a short-lived perennial/biennial but is not reliably winter hardy in the Chicago area, so it is grown and sold here as an annual bedding plant.
Pros
Very compact, dwarf habit — ideal for containers and small gardens
Fast to flower; long bloom from early summer to frost
Deer, rabbit, and drought tolerant once established
Cons
Not reliably winter hardy this far north; grown as an annual
May suffer powdery mildew in poor air circulation
Highlights
A dwarf, early-flowering selection from the Toto series with clean lemon-yellow flowers over a large chocolate-brown cone.
Plant Data
Mature Size
10 - 14 inches
tall. 10 - 14 inches
wide.
Growth Rate
Fast
Sun Exposure
Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance
Medium : Average water while establishing; drought-tolerant once established.
Zones
3a - 9b
(Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags
Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Extended Bloom Time, Fall Annuals, Full Sun, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Normal Soil, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Well-Drained Soil
We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
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!