Alphabetical Plant Listing

Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)

Black-eyed Susan, Yellow Ox-eye Daisy, Brown-Eyed Susan, Brown Betty, Golden Jerusalem, English Bull's Eye, Yellow Daisy


Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan) is a biennial or short-lived perennial boasting brilliant yellow daisylike flowers, 3 in. wide (7 cm) with a dark chocolate center disk. Enjoying a fairly extended blooming season, from early summer to fall, the flowers are attractive to butterflies, birds, and pollinating insects. They are borne atop stiff, upright stems clad with rough, hairy, lance-shaped leaves, 3-7 in. long (7-17 cm). This native prairie plant forms a rosette of leaves the first year, followed by flowers the second year. It will bloom the first year from seed planted in early spring. Black-Eyed Susan self-seeds freely and keeps a presence in the landscape. Putting on a spectacular show in the garden when other plants are starting to fade, Rudbeckia hirta tolerates heat, drought, and a wide range of soils except wet ones. The cheerful blossoms of the Black-eyed Susans are best in natural landscapes where they are allowed to self-sow and roam freely.

  • Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall (60-90 cm) and 1-2 ft. wide (30-60cm).
  • Thrives in full sun in average, dry to moist, well-drained soils. Drought tolerant but responds well to occasional watering. Additional irrigation in a dry year will lengthen the flowering season.
  • Ridiculously easy to grow, Black-Eyed Susan is a great candidate for mixed borders, cottage gardens, cottage gardens or prairies, and meadows. Excellent cut flowers.
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for powdery mildew, slugs, and snails. Deer resistant.
  • Remove and discard spent flowers to encourage extended blooming and prevent unwanted seedlings next season.
  • Easily propagated by seed in fall or spring. Spring-sown seed should be stratified.
  • Rudbeckia hirta is native to Eastern and Central North America.

 

Black-Eyed Susan: Plant Care and Growing Guide

Here are some tips on how to plant and grow black-eyed susans successfullyRead More

Not sure which Rudbeckia to pick?
Compare All Rudbeckia

Buy Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)

Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 10
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
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 24" (60cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Dry Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Buy Plants

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Rudbeckia

Guides with Rudbeckia


By Maya Afzaal, 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.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 10
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
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 24" (60cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Dry Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Rudbeckia

Guides with Rudbeckia

Plant Calculator

How many Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)

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.