LIKE groups of small, bright suns, the Rudbeckias or coneflowers have been lighting up the garden at Brockhole for the past few weeks.

We have only been growing them for about three years but, when I see them now, I wonder it took us so long to discover them, and how we managed without them.

A member of the Compositae or daisy family, Rudbeckias come in all shapes and sizes, as annuals, biennials and herbaceous perennials.

They are natives of North America, where they grow in moist meadows and light woodland, so they are ideally suited to the mild, damp climate of the Lakes.

Coneflowers make excellent cut flowers, brilliant border plants and I have seen them naturalised in great swathes in a woodland garden.

The easiest Rudbeckias to grow are varieties of the short-lived Rudbeckia hirta, which are generally grown as annuals.

Sown on a warm windowsill in spring, planted out in groups in May or June, they will flower from late August until the first frosts.

They have stout, branched stems with mid green leaves, and come in a variety of heights.

In most coneflowers the centre of each flower is a dark brown or black cone that contrasts with the petals perfectly.

Rudbeckia hirta 'Marmalade' grows to 18 inches tall, with golden-orange flower heads up to three inches across.

R.h.

'Goldilocks' is rather taller, reaching two feet tall, the flowers are semi-double, orange-yellow with a deep brown centre.

Also easy to grow are varieties of the perennial coneflower, Rudbeckia fulgida.

Slugs can damage them early in the season, but once they have grown away the plants are relatively pest and disease free.

R.

'Goldstrum' is a variety we grow at Brockhole, with strong, golden flower heads three to four inches across and contrasting black central cones.

It grows to 30 inches tall and flowers throughout late summer and autumn.

Another good variety is R.

'Herbstonne', which flowers from midsummer to early autumn.

Its flowerheads are four to five inches across, bright, butter-yellow with green cones in the centre.

This plant can reach up to six feet tall so it is a specimen for larger borders only.

For those who prefer more sophisticated flower shapes, Rudbeckia laciniata 'Golden Glow' and 'Goldquelle' both have double flowers, though as a consequence the central cone is not so prominent.

In all there are around 20 different species of Rudbeckia, with many named varieties of some of the species.

I shall definitely be looking out for more species to grow at Brockhole in the future.

Jobs for the gardener this week:

_ Dig up and split any overgrown or large clumps of herbaceous perennials.

Discard the oldest central portion, replant smaller, outer pieces after adding garden compost or rotted manure to the soil.

Give away spare bits to friends.

l Plant hedges between now and March.

Smaller plants will often establish faster than larger ones, provided the soil is in good heart and they are kept well weeded.

l Prune rambling roses by cutting some of the growths that have flowered this year down to ground level.

Tie in new growths as near to horizontal as possible to encourage the formation of flowering side shoots.