Rudbeckia Cherry Brandy

The first rudbeckia bred in a true red, and still the best of them. 'Cherry Brandy' carries deep cherry petals around a near-black central cone, on a compact plant around half a metre high.

Against the usual golds and bronzes of the genus it looks almost unrelated. It sits well with dark dahlias and deep salvias, and it is compact enough for a large container if the border is full.

It cuts well and lasts, and if you leave the last cones standing rather than tidying them away, the goldfinches will strip them through autumn. That is a better use for them than the compost heap.