A typical prairie plant that can also be used successfully in a herbaceous border. Yellow or orange flowers with purple-brown cones appear sometimes from as early as June but usually from July and will into September, above mid-green, oblong or lanceolate leaves. A reliable performer, it brings late season brightness and wonderful autumn gold. However, it is vulnerable to weed attack and it doesn’t like too much competition; it also needs more water than you might think. Flowers earlier than R. deamii. A new interesting short form, for the front of the border, is R. ‘Little Goldstar’.

H x S: 0.9m x 0.6m

Aspect and soil: Best in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, but also reasonably happy in part shade.

Use: At the front or middle of a summer border, alongside Asters, Perovkia, Salvias, etc.

Care: Leave the spent flower heads on for winter interest, cutting them back in the spring just as the new growth starts emerging. This is also the time to mulch, with garden compost, and perhaps also to stake it with twigs to provide a framework in case it goes floppy later on.

Wildlife: Bees, insects and butterflies love it.

Hazard: —

Origin: Species from the Eastern USA.

Hardiness: H4