Growing Black-eyed Susans

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Black-eyed Susans

Black-Eyed Susan in our yard with a tiny bee on it.

Sue Day

Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are native to North America and one of the most popular wildflowers grown. They tend to blanket open fields, often surprising the passerby with their golden-yellow beauty.

Members of the aster family, Asteraceae, the “black eye” is named for the dark, brown-purple centers of its daisy-like flower heads. The plants can grow to over 3 feet tall, with leaves of 6 inches, stalks over 8 inches long, and flowers with a diameter of 2 to 3 inches.

Butterflies, bees, and a variety of insects are attracted to the flowers for the nectar. As they drink the nectar, they move pollen from one plant to another, causing it to grow fruits and seeds that can move about easily with the wind.

These plants bloom from June to October. Note that they can be territorial in that they tend to squash out other flowers growing near them.

Black-eyed Susans are good for cut flowers; they also work well for borders or in containers.

Planting

Plant black-eyed Susans when the soil temperature has reached 70°F for best seed germination. In many parts of North America, the planting period is March to May. The flower will flower June to September. Germination takes 7 to 30 days.
Plant seeds in moist, well-drained soil.
These hearty flowers really enjoy the Sun. They prefer full sun, though they’ll grow in partial sun.
Sow by seed in loosely covered soil.
It’s best if soil is fertile (not poor) though they can tolerate tough conditions.
Black-eyed Susans generally grow between 1 and 3 feet tall (though they can grow taller) and can spread between 12 to 18 inches, so plant seeds closer to prevent lots of spreading or plant further apart to make a nice border.

Care

Check your plants regularly to see if they need watering. Make sure they don’t dry out.
Divide perennial types every 3 to 4 years to ensure healthy plants and to prevent excessive spreading.
Be sure to remove faded/dead flowers to prolong blooming.
You can cut back black-eyed Susans after they flower and a second, smaller bloom may occur in late fall.

Pests/Diseases

These plants are susceptible to powdery mildew fungi, so begin an organic antifungal program if the lower leaves turn brown and twisted.
Slugs and snails
Aphids
Powdery mildew
Rust
Smut
Leaf spots
Luckily, black-eyed Susans are deer-resistant plants.

Harvest/Storage

After the first season, black-eyed Susans can reseed themselves!

Recommended Varieties

‘Becky Mixed’, which offers a variety of colors for your garden, such as lemon-yellow, golden-yellow, dark red, and reddish-brown.
‘Sonora’, which has bright yellow flowers.
‘Toto’, which is a dwarf type and ideal for containers.

Wit & Wisdom

Black-eyed Susans are meant to symbolize justice. Find out more flower meanings here.

Reader Comments

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I moved and replanted a black

I moved and replanted a black eyed susan about 5 years ago and where I put it it seems to have put out runners and now it is taking over my landscaping. How do I get rid of the runners and just keep the main plant. The previous spot was bound by sidewalk and stayed in the original spot.

Black-eyed Susans

So beyond the fact that Black-eyed Susans are nice to look at, Black-eyed Susan has been known to cause mild poisoning in cattle and pigs. It may also be dangerous to cats, dogs and other household pets. This flower should also be kept away from small children, who may chew it or get the sap on their skin.they are poisonous to most

question

aren't most varieties of Black-eyed Susan's biennials?

black eyes Susan Vine in pot

I did not know anything about tis flower except it was beautiful so I bought two in pots and they are growing great but I have no room to plant them so wonder if I can get a trellis for them. Will they stay green in winter or die back , I'm in Southern California,

trellis for black-eyed Susans?

These are not trellising/climbing plants, although they do stand tall. Just leave them in the pots, in sun. They will not stay green; in fall they will die back. You can trim the dead foliage and leave them. Note, however, these are available as annual (Rudbeckia hirta) and perennial (Rudbeckia fulgida) varieties. If you have an annual, it will not come back. Check the plant tags.

Black eyed susans

My susans have 2 different leaves and no buds . The leaves at the bottom of the stalk and the top of the stalk are different. What's going on ??

Potted Black eyed susans

I purchased some Black eyed susans this past spring and have not gotten them in the ground yet. I live in central Michigan. Do I have to bring them indoors for the winter and do I need to prune them back some?

over the winter

Prune them and put them in a somewhat sheltered area outdoors. You do not want the roots to freeze, thaw, and freeze (repeat). Or, dig a hole and submerge the pot to its soil depth. You could try to keep them in a garage or basement, with occasional light watering.

Black Eyed Susan

Planted 9 healthy plants 2-3 years ago, healthy plants with abundant flowers UNTIL this year. Spread and produced flowers until this year, plants only 4-5 inches tall and a single flower on a stem of 5 inches and TINY. Should be knee high and blooming by Aug 1st. Help??? Marge

planting plans not seeds

I know one should plant seeds when the soil temp is 70 or above...but what about planting Blackeyed Susans if I have a 1-gallon plant?...same temp?

blackeyed susans

have a container, how and when would I plant it

How far to cut back in fall/winter

I have several of these wonderful plants that were planted this summer. I was pretty good about dead-heading during bloom time but now our Northern California winter is fully upon us and they are a mess. How far back to I cut them and when? I'm nervous about cutting back too far or not enough...suggestions?

Cutting back Black Eye Susan

2 inches from the soil should do it. Great bloom next season.

reseeding

I cut the heads off after the first hard freeze. They are all black and dead. Should I stir the seeds in the dirt to reseed for next year or do I wait until spring to seed? Which is best to make sure they come back?

can seeds be planted from cutbacks before frost ?

should the seeds from dried autumn blooms be saved for next spring?naturally they would fall and scatter.

Cutting back Black Eye Susan

You can cut back Black Eye Susan 2 inches from the soil. This will energize the plant. They will grow hearty the next blooming season.

black eyed busies

Want to know if the black dead heads are the seeds and can they be planted for
next year

Black eyed Susan

Plants bloom first two years nicely now....just lots of leaves and no flowers. What to do?

leaves but no flowers

Not sure what to do…

From time to time, people have written of this problem. Before you can do anything you need to know what the problem is; here is our advice. See also the info under “Pests” above:

• There are also foliage-loving bugs. Go out after dark with a flashlight and examine your plant for slugs, earwigs, whiteflies, etc. (Google for photos or see our pest library). Once you identify the pest, you can figure out a control to deter it.

• One possibility is that your soil has become depleted … trying enriching it, but not too much. If they are super cramped, they may need to be divided. Another possibility is that surrounding plants or structures may have changed since last year and your ladies are getting less sun.

• Go out after dark with a flashlight and examine your plant for slugs, earwigs, whiteflies, etc. (Google for photos or see our pest library). Once you identify the pest, you can figure out a control to deter it.

• If this happened overnight, it would normally be a deer or rabbit or animal. They usually leave the stem and go for the leaves.
Otherwise, look carefully at the leaves. Caterpillars tend to chew holes in the leaves. Slugs chews ragged, irregular shaped holes in leaves that cross the veins. See our pests and critter library to I.D. and learn more: http://www.almanac.com/topics/gardening/pests-and-problems

Black-eyed Susan.

My flowers have, what seems to be, a much smaller flower coming out of the black part of my flowers.?

black eyed susan vine

i am growing a susan vine, she's beautiful. only problem i am having at the moment is that some of the leaves have little holes and i don't understand what can be doing this to my susan vine. please help...

little holes in leaves

There are foliage-loving bugs about! Go out after dark with a flashlight and examine your plant for slugs, earwigs, whiteflies, etc. (Google for photos or see our pest library). Once you identify the pest, you can figure out a control to deter it.

can i sow BLACK-EYED SUSANS seeds in july or early august

I live on the island of jamaica,where it is hot and sunny all year round.can i sow BLACK-EYED SUSANS seeds in july or early august

Black Eyed Susans

The deer loved my black eyed Susans this year. Ate them before they bloomed. They were beautiful last year.

Black Eyed Susan & Deer

I had the same problem with deer however when I planted lavendar in between each plant, the deer and bunny’s won’t come near them as they hate the smell. Now I have a yellow and purple landscape.

Black eye susans

I plant my black eye Susan's and they die. Brown leaves and dry out I do water them every day sun shine. The thing I dont understand my neighbors grows them with no problem she splits them and gives me some but does not grow the neighbors multiple. I dont understand what can I be doing wrong. Help!

Black Eyed Susan

I am looking after a friends Black Eyed Susan in Spain. The leaves are yellowing at the bottom of the plant. Is this caused by over watering or something else? The plant is in full sun most of the day.

yellow leaves on Black-eyed Susan

This could be a sign of overwatering; is the soil constantly wet? Does the plant sit in a puddle? If so, lift it and let it drain.

Yellow leaves could also be cause by a fungal pathogen. Let it dry out if wet and give it air, outdoors in the sun, if possible. Also, when you water, water at the base (ground or root level) of the plant, not from the top down. This condition should not be fatal to the plant but we can not say for certain.

Black eyed susan

I live in Alaska just bought a Susan and I had no Idea they grew that tall. Our growing season is short so will they go that tall here in Alaska. Wished I could get colored ones also but have not seen them here first time having one. Thank you

Black-eyed Susan's in Alaska

As noted above these plants can get to about 3 feet tall. Hard to tell how a black-eyed Susan will do in Alaska, especially as it becomes acclimated (meaning to the location, light, etc.). Give it a couple/few years to get established (remember the perennial adage: first they sleep, then they creep, then leap). There are many circumstances that might affect its growth and remember that the one you bought may have been forced to bloom and stand as tall as it is. That may/may not happen exactly the same way again. Enjoy it!