Rudbeckia Hirta Sputnik

Rudbeckia Hirta Sputnik Seeds

(Black-Eyed Susan — Golden Yellow with Mahogany Base)

Rudbeckia hirta, known as Black-Eyed Susan, is a North American native wildflower in the Asteraceae family — one of the most beloved late-season flowering plants in horticulture, valued for its bold, daisy-like flowers, long bloom period, heat and drought tolerance, and outstanding performance as a cut flower. Sputnik is a distinct variety from Sahin Seeds, producing medium-sized flowers with pointed petals in golden yellow with a mahogany base and dark centres — a rich bicolor combination that gives Sputnik an unusually warm, sunset-toned character compared to plain yellow Rudbeckia varieties.

The pointed petal form of Sputnik is particularly distinctive — where many Rudbeckia varieties have broad, blunt ray florets, Sputnik’s petals taper to a point, creating a more refined, star-like silhouette around the dark cone center. The color graduation from deep mahogany at the base through to golden yellow at the tips adds further visual depth and warmth, making cut stems highly desirable in bouquets and arrangements where a sun-warmed, autumnal palette is sought.

Sputnik reaches 75 cm in height and is classified as suitable for cut flowers, heat tolerant, full sun landscaping, and home garden use. The stiff, upright stems are strong and self-supporting, making harvesting and vase use straightforward. Flowers are long-lasting both on the plant and in the vase, where they are best cut just before the blooms are completely open.
Rudbeckia hirta is a short-lived perennial typically grown as an annual. It is heat and drought tolerant once established, adapts to a wide range of soils, and self-seeds freely — meaning that plants allowed to set seed will often naturalize and return the following season.

In the Gulf, Rudbeckia Sputnik performs as a cool-to-warm season crop. Seeds sown in autumn establish through the cool season and flower from late winter through spring as days lengthen. The heat tolerance of Rudbeckia allows it to continue performing into the warmer transition periods that other cool-season flowers cannot tolerate.

Variety Details

• Variety: Sputnik
• Breeder: Sahin Seeds (Netherlands)
• Family: Asteraceae
• Hybrid: No (open-pollinated)
• Flower color: Golden yellow with mahogany base and dark brown center
• Petal form: Pointed — distinctive star-like silhouette
• Height: 75 cm
• Use: Cut flower, bedding, landscaping, heat-tolerant garden
• Germination: 0–7 days at 20°C with light
• Days to flower from sowing: 100–120 days

Key Features

• Distinctive pointed petals — golden yellow graduating from a rich mahogany base.
• Bold dark brown cone center — classic Black-Eyed Susan character.
• Strong upright stems to 75 cm — excellent for cutting and arranging.
• Heat and drought tolerant once established.
• Long bloom period — generous flowering from establishment through spring.
• Excellent cut flower — long-lasting in the vase.
• Attracts bees, butterflies, and pollinators.
• Self-seeds freely in frost-free conditions.
• Easy to grow from seed — fast germination in 0–7 days.

Plant Information

• Height: 75 cm
  Spread: 30–40 cm
  Plant type: Short-lived perennial, grown as annual
  Habit: Upright, self-supporting stems
  Sun: Full sun — best in 6+ hours daily
  Soil: Average to fertile, well-drained soil — tolerates poor soil; does not like waterlogged conditions
  Water: Regular watering to establish; drought tolerant once established
  Spacing: 30–40 cm apart

Seed Germination

• Seed depth: Surface sow or very light cover — seeds require light to germinate
• Germination time: 0–7 days at 20°C
• Ideal germination temperature: 16–25°C
• Sow on the surface of moist seed-starting compost at 20°C. Cover very lightly or leave uncovered — light aids germination.
• Water gently by misting to avoid displacing seeds.
• Keep consistently moist throughout germination. Germination is fast, typically within a week.
• Do not over-fertilize at the seedling stage.

Growing Tips

• Sow Sputnik seeds on the surface of moist, well-drained seed-starting compost at 20°C.
• Cover seeds very lightly or not at all as light is needed for germination.
• Keep consistently moist and in a bright position.
• Germination is fast — typically 0–7 days under optimal conditions.
• Once seedlings develop 2–3 true leaves, pot up into individual pots and grow on in full light.
• After 5–7 weeks from sowing, plants are ready to transplant to their final garden or container position.
• Transplant at 30–40 cm spacing in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.
• Rudbeckia Sputnik is tolerant of most soil types but will perform best in moderately fertile, well-drained soil with consistent moisture during establishment. Once established, it is notably drought tolerant and requires minimal watering.
• Do not over-enrich the soil — too much nitrogen produces excessive foliage at the expense of flowers.
• Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous new flower production and to extend the blooming season.
• For cut flower use, harvest stems just before the flowers are fully open and place immediately into clean water.
• Allow some flowers to set seed at the end of the season for natural self-seeding and potential return the following year.
• In Gulf conditions, Rudbeckia Sputnik is best sown in autumn, established through the cool season, and will flower as days lengthen from late February through April.
• Its heat tolerance extends its productive season compared to other cool-season annuals.

Gulf Planting Season

• Best sowing time in the Gulf: September–October (indoors or direct sow)
• Transplanting: October–November
• Expected flowering: February–April
• Note: Heat tolerance extends the flowering period into the warmer spring months.
• Plants may self-seed for the following season.

Garden and Cut Flower Uses

• Cut flowers — excellent vase life, warm golden and mahogany tones
• Mixed bouquets — pairs beautifully with sunflowers, zinnias, and warm-toned flowers
• Garden borders and beds — bold color for late-season displays
• Cottage and wildflower gardens
• Containers and large pots