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

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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.

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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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?

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 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!

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?