Bred from the native Rudbeckia hirta species and R. 'Prairie Sun,' Denver Daisy� sports enormous 6- to 8-inch blooms with outstretched petals of purest yellow. At the base of each petal is a dab or two of dark red, creating a halo around the chocolate-brown cone. Stunning in cutflower bouquets and a huge draw in the garden (butterflies and bees take notice ? not to mention songbirds, who feast on the dried seeds in those cones in late fall and early winter), it is a must-have for the sunny border.

Denver Daisy� reaches 22 to 26 inches high and about 10 to 18 inches wide, with good branching and very strong flower stems. Expect the blooms to begin by late summer and continue well into fall, combining well with the oranges and golds of the harvest season.

Best in average to dry soil, Denver Daisy� is quite tolerant of drought after its first season of growth. Insects and other pests leave it alone, and its native vigor ensures that it can withstand tough environmental conditions. This is a plant to put front and center in the cutting garden, use as a ribbon of color through the sunny garden, and perhaps even pot up for knock-em-dead color on the deck. Enjoy! Pkt is 25 seeds.