These daisy-like flowers are the right shade of yellow for September – a rich, mellow yellow. They’re made all the more eye-catching by their prominent, dark brown, cone-shaped centres, hence the common name ‘Black-eyed Susan’. They flower from August to October and are a magnet for butterflies, bees and hoverflies.

Excellent for the middle of a late summer border, they work well with ornamental grasses. Height 60cm, spread 45cm. Rudbeckia fulgida deamii is a particularly free-flowering variety best planted in bold drifts in a sunny or partially shady site. I think its petals are more refined than the popular Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ and it has a more elegant presence, although slightly shorter in height.

Rudbeckia are hardy perennials that generally like quite heavy soil, but this one seems more tolerant of dry conditions than most. A rewarding plant!