I've had Rudbeckia marmalade for 5 years too! These plants are perennials, but are usually grown as annuals in the UK - they sometimes disappear over winter, and tend to "creep" away from their earlier position, appearing half a foot away, making a sort of patchy clump. Possibly in colder areas, or exposed gardens, they do actually die over winter.

Here in the subtropical desert, Rudbeckias are almost all short-lived perennials. In Flagstaff, AZ (2'150 m elev.) R. hirta and R. fulgens have a pronounced tendency to disappear in the winter. Other species seem to hang on, but they don't have the huge number of cultivars of the first mentioned species. Some folks in the UK may be disappointed in their Rudbeckias this spring.

Well now that's interesting Bamboo! Because I was convinced that Marmalade was only an annual I pulled them out at the end of the season. I will leave them this time - I have a few as well as the Prairie Sun - and see if they regenerate next year. Thank you!

Mine are still there, Tugbrethil, though won't be in flower till much later on, but it came through this winter (sheltered spot though)

Good to hear, Bamboo!