Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Sun’

* Common name: Gloriosa daisy ‘Prairie Sun’

* Botanical name: Rudbeckia hirta ‘Prairie Sun’

* What it is: A heat-loving, drought-tolerant, summer-blooming annual flower that gets large, almost hand-sized flowers with cheery neon-gold petals. It’s late to start blooming, but once it gets going in July, it’s one of the brightest, most striking flowers from then to frost.

* Size: Grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Space 15 to 18 inches apart.

* Where to use: Best in full sun in a flower border or mixed garden, preferably toward the middle or back because of its height.

* Care: Protect young transplants or seedlings from rabbits. An occasional shot of flower fertilizer is helpful but not critical if the soil is good. Snip off browned-out flowers to encourage continuous bloom and to keep the plants looking neat. Do not cut or remove in fall… in mild winters, these sometimes survive winter and return for a second season.

* Great partner: ‘Profusion Orange’ or ‘Profusion Fire’ zinnias are other heat-loving annuals that look great at ‘Prairie Sun’s’ feet. Red or burgundy mums are good later-season perennial-flower partners.