Black-eyed Susan

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Common Name

Coneflower

Scientific Name

Rudbeckia hirta

Plant Category

Perennial, annual, biennial

Location

North America, eastern United States

Height

18-30 inches

Width

6-18 inches

Blooming Season

Summer to fall

Plant Habit

Stiff and upright

Color

Yellow, orange or gold

Sun

Full sun

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil

Water

Moderate

Plant Characteristics

Resist drought, attract butterflies, provide food for birds in the winter and mildew-resistant.

Usage

Best used along roadsides, open fields, floral gardens, mixtures and cut flowers.

Information

The Black-eyed Susan was designated the state flower of Maryland on April 18, 1918. They are probably the most common of all American wildflowers. Native to North America, Black-eyed Susans are prolific wildflowers that have become popular in the home flower garden. They are also called Gloriosa Daisy due to their yellow, orange, and gold colors. There are about 90 varieties of Black-eyed Susans. They are herbaceous, mostly perennial plants growing to 0.5-3 m tall, with simple or branched stems. The leaves are alternate, hispid, entire or shallow-toothed margins, and vary in size and shape. The flowers are produced in daisy-like inflorescences, with yellow or orange florets arranged in a prominent, cone-shaped head; "cone-shaped" because the ray florets tend to point out and down as the flower head opens. Black-eyed Susans typically stay in a basal rosette in their first year, and then produce upright branching stems with flowers in the second year.

Growing Tips

Black-eyed Susans are grown from seed. If started early in the spring, they can bloom in the first year. They can be directly seeded into flower gardens as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring or later in the summer or fall for flowers next year. Black-eyed Susans are easy to grow. They do best in full sun in moist soil conditions in a well-drained area. Once the plants are established, they will grow well unattended. Separate the clumps after a few years or the plants will crowd each other out, resulting in smaller plants and flowers.

Common Problems

Black-eyed Susans are resistant to insects and disease. They can be affected by downy mildew, rusts, leafspots, powdery mildew, crown rot, leaf gall, smut, aphids, beetles although they are not serious problems. If insect or disease problems occur, treat early with organic or chemical insect repellents and fungicide.