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 sunflower family, 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 flower 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.
Reader Comments
Leave a Comment
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!
Rudbeckia
Can I grow these in Florida, zone 9a . Will they be perrinial?
Black-eyes Susan Zone 9a
Yes, nine Rudbeckia species are native to Florida and commonly grown. It’s hardy in USDA Zone 9a to -6.6 °C (20 °F). It’s a great plant, attractive to bees, butterflies and birds.
It’s a perennial in South Florida, but in North Florida and other areas of the U.S., it is grown as an annual.
Black eyed susans
I was wondering if I need to cut back my black eyed Susan’s this spring. The stems of my plants are all broken and bent at ground level due to a snowy winter.
Black Eyed Susan's
I planted a couple of plants last year. When will they show signs of returning?
Black Eyed Susans
It depends on your location and when your last spring frost is! You should expect to see them come up a couple weeks after your last spring frost date, and they usually bloom starting in early summer.
When to trim back
Planted a half dozen plants from 4" pots. Got nice flowers but now have the stems and black pods. Greens are starting to brown. We are hosting a party in a few weeks and my bride wants me to cut them down. I intended to let them re-seed naturally and fill in the border over the coming years. If I have to cut them back now and save the pods, how will I know if I have seeds for the Spring. I see in another note you recommended a jar with something to keep them moist. Help an old man, please. I'm so happy to have them!!!
Harvesting Black-Eyed Susan Seeds
Snip off the pods and let them dry for a few days on a countertop. Then, once the pods are sufficiently dry, break them apart over paper towels (so you can contain and keep track of the tiny black seeds). Collect the seeds and store them in an envelope in the fridge, then plant in the late spring or early summer. You’ll have the best success if you wait until soil temperatures reach at least 70 degrees F.
Black eyed Susanbplants
I have a field full of these plants, I cut flowers for vases all summer... I have some smaller plants and dug them up to transplant in flower bed or in containers... would the container plants live through the winter in my house? Then transplant in spring back outside?
Wintering Black-Eyed Susans
Hi Liliz,
Yes, the plants would survive through the winter. They prefer full sun, but would survive in partial sun. The plants would not flower during the winter, however.
Black eyed susans
I have several varieties of black eyed susan but some get too tall for the area where I have them planted. I thought I had taken out the tall ones last year but still came back. Can I cut these down in the early spring to inhibit the height during the season?
Black eyed susan
My black eyed susans look good but only a single flower bloomed and bees won't go to it. Doesn't look black and to have good Pollen. I am totally confused. I fertilized them recently and was lacking at watering and so starring watering.
I feel totally at a loss and novice to growing these flower's.
Any help deeply appreciated?
Black eyed Susans
When I bought my house 15 years ago I had a beautiful patch of black eyed Susan's. Now just a few sparse plants pop up each year. Truthfully, I did nothing to help them grow as I assumed the just come back. I bought some some seeds to try to replenish the patch. It is July, can I plant them now? I live in Pennsylvania
Planting Black-eyed Susans
Black-eyed Susans are indeed perennials that will return year-after-year but not forever! Usually, they are in full bloom in July when it’s hot and sunny. We tend to seed Black-Eyed Susans in the spring once 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 plant will flower June to September. Germination takes 7 to 30 days. That said, you could try seeding later in the summer or fall for flowers next year. This is how wild flowers reseed themselves. Why not. They’re just seeds. See what happens. If you wait until spring, store seeds in a cool, dry place.
Black eyes susans
I have black eyed susan's that are e feet tall but have yet to bloom. I live in zip code 20185 for zone purposes. When should they bloom this year?
Thanks
Black Eyed Susan's
I believe Black Eyed Susan's have started taking over my from lawn. They haven't bloomed yet,however, I am curious to know if these are actually them or not. They have a soft petal on them and most are about 18" tall. The stem is rugged though and withstands being bent over. Some have a bud and look like they my bloom soon. Do they hold up if I dig them up now and replant elsewhere? Help....
black eye Susan problem
My plants are curling up and coming up deformed at the beginning of spring, some develop bubly brown circles and some leaves are narrow and deformed. how can I resolve the issue?
Black eyed susan
I bought 2 lots of black eyed susan from a garden center last year grow them up trellis they were fantastic I let them die and dry out there I took them down in November I did hope that they would seed naturally this year but not a one has I planted them in the ground with good compost like I said they grow fantastic covered a 5 ft x 6ft trellis no problem and went all over the ground but not a ONE HAS GERMINATED WHY thank you
black-eyed Susans disappeared
Black-eyed Susan’s naturally self-seed. That is, the flowers of one year provide the seeds that result in plants with flowers for the next year. Our hunch, and it’s only a guess based on your statement above, is that you removed the flower heads from the area. And this is based on the idea that you “took them down in November.” What did you take down? If those were black-eyed Susans and if you removed the flower (seed) heads, then no seeds were there to set themselves.
OR (the plot thickens) we are thinking that because black-eyed Susans are not climbers per se (they stand tall on long stems), could it be that you had another plant entirely growing up the trellis?? Perhaps you have a photo you can take to a nursery to inquire what it is? (We can not accept/receive photos.)
Black eyed Susan vine comes
Black eyed Susan vine comes to mind. I have both. Look very similar except the vine..well, vines. Spot on I think what you said about moving the plants.
Black eyed susans
I noticed a couple of people concerned about the plants dying back in the fall. I bought a single plant several years ago at the spring garden fair. It has multiplied and we have a patch about 4 feet across. It dies back pretty much to the ground each fall. I leave the dead flowers stems through the winter as birds, particularly goldfinches, eat the seeds out of the heads. New plants also start from short runners at the edge of the patch. We dig many of these up and give away the starts so the patch doesn't get too big. Very easy to grow, they come back on their own every year.
Self-seeding
Thanks, Jim! Good to hear a great success story! We all need advice and encouragement. Cheers!
Rabbit eating growth
A rabbit is eating my new growth. Will the plant send up new growth after the rabbit has gone?
keep rabbits out of garden
Rabbits do love this plant. There’s not a lot you can do this year, but next year consider placing wire cages around the plants early enough to prevent rabbits from reaching and eating the tender shoots. See more ways to keep rabbits out of the garden: http://www.almanac.com/pest/rabbits
Most of my flowers have
Most of my flowers have started to pop up. But my black eyed Susan's have not. I have had trouble the last few years as my soul is mostly clay. When will I know if they are coming back or if they didn't survive?
Thanks!!!!
Black-eyed Susans
Hi Samantha,
Depending on which region you live in, your black-eyed Susans should come up within the next month to bloom by early- to mid-June. Black-eyed Susans are extremely resilient native flowers, but sometimes even the most determined plant (and gardener) can fall short. If you are still worried they may not come up, now through May is the time to plant new seeds. They’ll germinate and sprout in 7-30 days and be ready to bloom by June.
We hope this helps!
Pages