'Goldsturm' may be the most popular rudbeckia and its no wonder, with its long season of bloom and vivid color. Exceptional large flowers (3 to 5 inches across) bloom on sturdy stems from mid-summer into early fall. The petals are a deep yellow, and they surround a prominent dark brown center. An excellent cut flower, leave some behind for the birds, that greatly appreciate the seed well into the winter months. Foliage is lance-like to oval and deep green. Grows about 24 to 36 inches tall and wide. Use in a perennial border, cottage garden, meadow or naturalized area.
Grow in well drained soil and in full sun. Tolerates a range of soil types, including clay soil, dry soil, shallow soil, rocky soil. Drought and heat tolerant. Though prefers full sun, will tolerate a little shade. Rhizamatous habit means it spreads to form dense colonies, so just plan accordingly when you plant it. Leave flower stalks all winter as the seeds will feed the songbirds and provide winter interest. Cut back stalks and old foliage in late winter. Drought tolerant once established, but blooming period will be longer and more flowerful if watered periodically.