Rudbeckia ‘Gold Rush’, the Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year; Photo: Richard Hawke, Chicago Botanic Gardens

The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) named Rudbeckia ‘American Gold Rush’ as its 2023 Perennial Plant of the Year during its National Symposium in Lancaster, PA, in early August. ‘American Gold Rush’ is a stunning addition to any garden. At the height of summer, it turns up the volume for a long season of dazzling color right up to autumnal frosts. The bright golden-yellow flowers feature arching rays and a reddish halo surrounding dark chocolate cones. Three-inch flowers blanket the compact plant, which is only 22 to 27 inches tall with a broader width to 40 inches if given room to grow.

The green leaves and stems are covered in hairs, which gives them a silvery cast — on sunny days, peeking through the blooms to the leaves is a luminous silver-and-gold treat. More than just boosting the ornamental show, the hairy foliage is resistant to septoria leaf spot — a debilitating fungal disease that causes unsightly black spotting and premature seasonal decline on some Black-eyed Susans. ‘American Gold Rush’ is a reliable hardy perennial and a great substitute for popular, brassier ‘Goldsturm’, which is highly susceptible to leaf spotting.

Brent Horvath, owner of wholesale growing operation Intrinsic Perennial Gardens in Illinois, speaks highly of the ‘American Gold Rush’.

“I’ve always liked my plant introductions to speak for themselves, and this one speaks volumes,” Hawke says. “From start to finish, this plant is generally trouble free and easy to propagate, grow, and finish in a container and a breeze to garden with.”

Richard Hawke, Director of Ornamental Plant Research of the Chicago Botanic Gardens says, “‘American Gold Rush’ is the Black-eyed Susan that made me want to grow them again. It ticks all the boxes for a superior garden plant — bountiful golden flowers, long-blooming, disease-free, and a robust habit.”

Also during the National Symposium, nine perennial professionals were recognized for their exceptional contributions to the industry with a Special Recognition Award. Initiated in 1985 by PPA, the Special Recognition Awards program recognizes individuals in nine unique perennial industry categories for their distinguished work.

This year’s category descriptions and recipients are:

Brian D. Sparks is senior editor of Greenhouse Grower and GreenhouseGrower.com. See all author stories here.

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