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.
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We can't be certain but here
We can't be certain but here are a couple of ideas:
• This plant is sensitive to day length; in fact, it is sometimes called a "long day" plant." As the daylength shortens, flowering is reduced and increasinglly malformed—although admittedly, the days are not yet very short.
• Could you have Prairie coneflower, which resembles bkac-eyed Susan? Its petals fall as its flower disk darkens.
I have a few acres of field
I have a few acres of field behind my house that is completely covered in wild Black-eyed Susans that come back every year despite being mowed for hay. How can I transplant these ones to a better spot in my yard where I need some coverage and what is the best timing to do so?
The best times are in the
The best times are in the fall/October time frame or early spring/early April. just dig them up and transplant them. The roots could be up to a foot deep. it varies with each plant and how long they have been there. They are very hearty plants. They should do well. The more sun they get the better. At least for my plants. I transplanted my plants in April and they grew and bloomed by the end of June. Next year they should bloom sooner.
I noticed today that the
I noticed today that the stems of my black eyes Susans had been chewed off. Some of the leaves were eaten but the flowers and stems were still there. I looked for rabbit and deer droppings and didn't find anything. Does anyone know what could be do this?
If this happened overnight,
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/...
Thank you, I found out that
Thank you, I found out that it was indeed a rabbit, but it was a young one so it fit through the fence.
My gardener spaced out and
My gardener spaced out and didnt plant seeds I had purchased earlier this year. (I'm in Southern California).
Is it too late to germinate and plant them at this stage? (July)
THANK YOU
In Southern California, we'd
In Southern California, we'd recommend that you sow and transplant your black-eyed susans in September or October at this point.
In my flower garden I
In my flower garden I originally planted a circular cluster of irises that thrived and multiplied. A few years ago, I added some black-eyed susans in a part of the garden not to far away from the irises. Lo and behold, the black eyed susans have now invaded the circular space that the irises are in. This Spring they have completely overrun my irises, to the point that only 10% of the irises bloomed :( The Black-eyed susans, which will bloom around the beginning of August, are thriving. How would you suggest I extricate/separate them from my irises? It seems that the root structure of the irises and the susans have meshed and become somewhat entangled. Any advice would be appreciated.
You can dig up the irises and
You can dig up the irises and Black-eyed Susans that grow together and carefully separate them. Then replant them in separate flowerbeds. You may loose some of the Black-eyed Susans in the process. A good time to transplant irises is in the summer after they have bloomed.
at anytime before flowering
at anytime before flowering should you pinch back a black eye susan like you do a mum.
It's best to prune after the
It's best to prune after the black eyed Susan has first bloomed. Look on the stem below the spent flower. If there are new flower buds forming cut just above the first flower bud below the dead flower. When you see no more flower buds cut the stem close to the ground. This will cause new growth at the base of the plant.
We had a small bed (3' x 8')
We had a small bed (3' x 8') of black-eyed susans that had happily lived and bred in the same spot (a "planter" I made on top of a rock outcropping)for ten to fifteen years. Last summer the plants started looking peaked (fewer in number, and shorter), and this year none of them came back.
We also have a few Shasta Daisies in the same spot, and none of them came back either. All that is growing there now is grass.
We live adjacent to Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest.
What might have killed off the black eyed susans, and if I replant are the new plants likely to survive?
I am a new homeowner and was
I am a new homeowner and was doing some "weeding" in one of the gardens of my house. Unfortunately I mistook black Eyed Susan sprouts (perrenials) for weeds! I dug up half of them from the roots before realizing what they were...from a neighbor! I don't know much about this stuff and I desperately retrieved all the dug up plants and replanted them. Will they from back this year or will I now have to wait until next year? :*(
Thanks for any help or suggestions!
Danielle
Long Island, NY
If you had enough roots on
If you had enough roots on the plants that you dug up they should be doing fine. By now you should already see some new growth if they survived.
I want to have pots of black
I want to have pots of black eyed susans at my daughter's wedding on Sept 27 in southern Maryland. When should I plant the seeds so that they are mature and ready to display or cut for the wedding?
look at the back of seed
look at the back of seed packets and it will tell you the "days to maturity" from seeding to harvest. since weather conditions are unpredictable, you might want to stagger plantings--before and after--in hopes that you hit the wedding right.
I am trying to establish a
I am trying to establish a new BES flower bed in an area that formally contained Bishop weed. I already have a large overgrown area that is full of BES. Can I plant the seed heads from the existing plants and expect them to grow, or do I need to divide the whole plant and move to my new bed thanks!!!
Plants that produce seed
Plants that produce seed heads are among the most difficult from which to harvest seed, according to our source. Black-eyed Susan is one of these.
It is not advisable to plant the seed head. The recommended method is to remove the seeds from the head and store them in a cool, dry environment until next spring or summer. Then plant them.
If you choose to divide the plants instead (or in addition), do it in the spring or next fall.
Concerning your
Concerning your recommendation for harvesting the seeds of black eyed susans, can you tell me if the seeds will still be good in the spring if left outside for the winter? Thanks
Get a plant at a nursery.
Get a plant at a nursery. After the first year they will proliferate if the mulch/soil is good. (I use chips from the tree choppers and save thousands.) Don't forget the many kinds - all yellow, regular and magenta.
Hi, I am new at this whole
Hi, I am new at this whole gardening stuff. My BES are looking very dead. They are very brown and dead. =) I've been told and have read to cut the steams back. Is that all I need to do or do I need to cute more like down to the ground. I am temted to just take the whole plant out and start over with something new. but if I can still save these I guess I should. Please help. Thank you
Black-eyed Susans will indeed
Black-eyed Susans will indeed "die down" in the fall. You can cut them down to the ground. They'll regrow.
I was given a beautiful lush
I was given a beautiful lush black eyed susan plant. I had it on my porcha and watered it regularly. Now it is all dead and dry. Flowers are long gone. If I plant this in the ground before frost will it come up next year? I live in CT. Any comments are welcome. Thank you.
It's normal for black eyed
It's normal for black eyed Susans to die back in the fall. Put your plant in the ground as soon as possible and water until the ground freezes. It should come back nicely next year.
Hello, I received a hanging
Hello, I received a hanging pot of Black Eyed Susans for a wedding gift. They've been doing well with being watered once a day and hanging on our porch. I live in Missouri and the fall/frost season is nearly upon us now. What is the best way to transplant them into a regular plant pot so they can come inside?
Also, should I expect it to stop blooming in the winter, even if it is indoors?
Thank you
We would normally recommend
We would normally recommend that any cold hardy perennial be pulled from the container in the fall and planted in the ground before it freezes. Some gardeners put the entire container in the ground for the winter, but the container must be heeled into the ground to protect the roots which tend to be less cold hardy. Water well and cover with lots of mulch until spring.
Can I plant my black eyed
Can I plant my black eyed Susan seeds now? I live in the NE and also want to know f I can plant them behind my young hibiscus tree without them compromising it? Also can I plant some behind my hostas???
Plant Black-eyed Susans when
Plant Black-eyed Susans when the soil temperature has reached 70 degrees 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. In general, Black-eyed Susans mix very well with most perennials, shrubs, and plants. Note that they can be territorial in that they tend to squash out other flowers growing near them so keep them in control and don't crowd them.
Recently, I was given some
Recently, I was given some black-eyed susan seeds. When should I plant them for best results? I live in the area between Atlanta and Athens, Georgia.
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