A flower without petals – now there’s a curious concept! But Rudbeckia occidentalis 'Black Beauty' shows us that you can still have plenty of theatrics, excitement and all-round spectacular showmanship, all without a single petal – who would have though it! Instead, light green bracts form a starry ruff around a large, cone-shaped flowerhead, in the deepest velvety black. As the tiny florets open up one by one, from the bottom up - a golden ‘wedding ring’ of pollen forms around it, creating an eye-catching contrast that won’t just attract pollinators, but plenty of admiring gazes too!

As one of the most unusual varieties out there, Rudbeckia occidentalis 'Black Beauty' would be the perfect answer to that perennially tricky question – what do you buy the gardener who has everything? Alternatively, its tasteful neutral tones would segue perfectly into a modern, minimalist scheme. Requiring plenty of sunlight and a little more moisture than its other counterparts in the Rudbeckia genus - find a place in your garden for this peculiar character, and you’ll be rewarded with a dramatic display from late summer into autumn.