Alphabetical Plant Listing

Black-Eyed Susan: Plant Care and Growing Guide

Rudbeckia hirta, Rudbeckia fulgida, Rudbeckia subtomentosa


Black-Eyed Susan is a beautiful and versatile plant that adds color and interest to any garden or landscape.

What are Black-Eyed Susans?

Black-Eyed Susan is a popular flowering plant that is native to North America. It is botanically known as Rudbeckia hirta and Rudbeckia fulgida. It is a member of the Asteraceae family and is closely related to other popular garden plants such as asters, daisies, and sunflowers.

Plant type: Black-Eyed Susan is a short-lived perennial plant, but it is often treated as an annual. It is considered a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9.

Flowers: Black-Eyed Susan is known for its bright, golden-yellow petals with a dark brown or black center, which gives it its distinctive appearance. The flowers are daisy-like in appearance and can grow up to 3 inches (7 cm) in diameter.

Blooming season: It typically blooms from early summer to fall and can provide a pop of color in the garden during the late summer months.

Height/spread: Black-Eyed Susans can grow up to 3 feet tall (90 cm) and can spread up to 2 feet wide (60 cm).

Uses: Black-Eyed Susans are a popular choice for gardens and landscaping and can be used in borders, mass plantings, naturalized areas, and containers. It makes excellent cut flowers with a vase life of 8 to 10 days.

Pollinators: The flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Spread: Black-Eyed Susans can spread in the garden through both self-seeding and rhizome growth.

Deer: The plant is generally considered deer-resistant, as deer tend to avoid plants with a strong fragrance or tough, fibrous foliage.

State Flower: Black-Eyed Susan is the state flower of Maryland, where it is cherished for its beauty and resilience.

Overall, Black-Eyed Susan is a beautiful and versatile plant that adds color and interest to any garden or landscape while also attracting important pollinators and supporting local wildlife.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 7
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Annuals, Perennials
Plant Family Rudbeckia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Drought
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
Compare All Rudbeckia Great Plant Combination Ideas with Rudbeckia Guides with Rudbeckia

Mariia Romanyk, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 7
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Annuals, Perennials
Plant Family Rudbeckia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Drought
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
Compare All Rudbeckia Great Plant Combination Ideas with Rudbeckia Guides with Rudbeckia

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.