Question about my Rudbeckias

borgadr

I dug out these two borders in winter and planted them from scratch.  The idea was to have brilliant yellow rudbeckias in the middle contrasting with blue salvias and agastache or verbena either side. But as you can see my synchronisation is a little out.

Are the Rudbeckias simply late because it's their first year? They are fulgida 'Goldsturm', some were raised from seed in the greenhouse this year (sown early spring) and some bought in as miniscule plugs late April. Is it possible they won't flower at all in the first year?

borgadr

I should have added, they are in full sun all morning until around 3pm, then dappled shade from some trees through late afternoon and evening. The border faces southeast.

JennyJ

Like many of the yellow daisy-type flowers, the rudbeckia is an autumn flowerer. I'd expect it to start sometime during August and be at its best in September.

borgadr

Thanks @JennyJ.   Do you think the salvias would still be going strong by then? They've already been in flower for a good few weeks.

Lyn

They are perennials that means seeds sown this year bloom next. 
You may get flowers if you sowed early enough but don’t count on it. 

Fairygirl

Your salvias may well still be flowering, but next year, the rudbeckias will be settled in and you should get a better overlap of both plants. 
You could always try adding something else, the same colouring as the rudbeckia, which flowers a little earlier, and that would give a longer succession of your colour scheme. 

borgadr

Thanks @Lyn and @Fairygirl.

@Lyn - yes, I did have doubts about whether they'd flower this year. Mind you, the salvias were sowed about the same time but have managed to flower.

Incidentally, what do you think the chances are of these salvias surviving the winter if I give them a good mulch? Better than 50-50 in a "normal" winter? They are Mystic Spires Blue (at the back) and farinacea Victoria (front). Different websites seem to disagree as to whether they are hardy or half-hardy. I'm in a low-lying part of Kent about 10 miles from the sea.  

Fairygirl

You might be ok where you are if you don't get regular frosts, and if the soil is lighter. Wet cold is always worse than dry cold. Most salvias don't survive here even in what I'd call a mild winter. You may need a bit of protection, and it would be worth just keeping an eye on the weather, and having some protection ready. 
If you're able to take cuttings, that's certainly worth doing, and would ensure a supply if any don't make it. 

Lyn

Mine all survive here strangely enough,  but I lost an Agastache this winter.  May have been a short lived plant though. 

Ilikeplants

My rudibeckia have been flowering for a couple of weeks now. I also sowed from seed last year and this is the first year they flowered. They’ve gotten a bit tall and keep toppling over, lack of staking issue. They are lovely once they get going though.

Alan Clark2 in Liverpool

My Goldsturm will start to flower in another week. If yours don't have any buds yet then they might not flower this year, but they might just be late. They look big enough to flower.