If sunshine had a flower, it would be the Black-Eyed Susan! Beloved across North America, Rudbeckia species bring blazing yellow, orange, and even ruby-red petals to gardens all summer long. Known for their easy care, long-lasting blooms, and ability to attract bees, butterflies, and songbirds, they've become an essential part of pollinator-friendly and eco-conscious landscapes!
Also known as Brown-Eyed Susans, Gloriosa Daisy, Brown Betty, yellow coneflower, and English Bull's Eye, there are dozens of cultivars available, so choosing the right one can feel like picking a favorite star in the sky!
To make it easier, we've rounded up the Top 10 Black-Eyed Susans available at Nature Hills - each with its own personality, size, and special appeal for wildlife and gardeners alike.
Top 10 Black-Eyed Susans At Nature Hills
Little Suzy Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii)
This compact perennial powerhouse is perfect for borders, containers, or smaller gardens, producing golden blooms with chocolate-brown centers all summer.
- USDA Zones: 4-10
- Height: 18 - 24 inches
- Spread: 18 - 24 inches
Little Goldstar Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
One of the best compact Rudbeckias, known for its tidy growth and profusion of blooms, Little Goldstar is ideal for edging and patio containers.
- USDA Zones: 4-9
- Height: 12 - 18 inches
- Spread: 18 inches
Glitters Like Gold Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Bright golden-yellow flowers light up the summer garden on sturdy stems that resist flopping.
- USDA Zones: 4-9
- Height: 2 - 3 feet
- Spread: 1 - 2 feet
American Gold Rush Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Award-winning variety with outstanding mildew resistance, compact size, and a long bloom season.
- USDA Zones: 4-9
- Height: 22 - 26 inches
- Spread: 3 - 4 feet
Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm')
A classic perennial favorite with reliable clumps of bright golden flowers year after year.
- USDA Zones: 3-9
- Height: 12 - 24 inches
- Spread: 18 - 24 inches
Showy Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia speciosa)
Tall, elegant blooms make this variety a standout in meadows and prairie-style gardens.
- USDA Zones: 3-7
- Height: 2 - 3 feet
- Spread: 18 - 24 inches
Sweet Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa)
Fragrant golden flowers and tall stature make this a pollinator-friendly favorite for the back of borders.
- USDA Zones: 4-8
- Height: 3 - 5 feet
- Spread: 18 - 24 inches
Cherry Brandy Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Deep red blooms with mahogany centers bring drama and unique color to the garden.
- USDA Zones: 5-8 (often grown as an annual)
- Height: 18 - 24 inches
- Spread: 12 - 15 inches
Prairie Glow Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba 'Prairie Glow')
A new arrival, this vibrant variety features fiery bicolor blooms in shades of orange, red, and gold with dark centers. Upright and branching, it creates a tapestry of color in late summer and fall. Excellent for naturalized plantings, prairie gardens, or pairing with ornamental grasses.
- USDA Zones: 4-10
- Height: 2 - 4 feet
- Spread: 1 - 2 feet
Deamii Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia deamii)
A long-lived perennial that extends garden color into fall while feeding pollinators late in the season.
- USDA Zones: 4-8
- Height: 24 - 30 inches
- Spread: 12 - 15 inches
Garden and Landscape Uses
Black-Eyed Susans are as versatile as they are vibrant. Their sunny faces and hardy nature make them easy to tuck into almost any style of garden.
Watch the change of the seasons ripple through your landscape by incorporating Rudbeckia in mixed perennial gardens and cozy Cottage borders!
Plant en masse for a brilliant spectacle with these easy-to-grow and maintain perennials! Fill hard-to-mow hillsides and eroding slopes with the spreading Sweet Black-Eyed Susan or Green-Eyed Autumn Sun!
Drought-tolerant and Firewise, Black-Eyed Susans are xeric once established and can handle rocky, sandy, poor soil with ease! Plant in that hell strip along the road and sidewalk where these plants shrug off poor soil and occasional salt spray during the winter months. Use to add sunny blooms to Rock Gardens and mailbox gardens in the full sun all day.
Here's how these Rudbeckias shine in different landscapes:
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Borders and Edging: Compact varieties like Little Suzy and Little Goldstar create neat, low-growing ribbons of color along walkways, garden paths, or mixed perennial beds. Their dense habit helps define spaces while adding cheerful, long-lasting blooms.
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Mass Plantings and Meadows: Tried-and-true favorites like Goldsturm and Glitters Like Gold make stunning drifts when planted in groups. Their golden daisies sway in the breeze and pair beautifully with ornamental grasses like Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass or Pink Muhly Grass. Perfect for prairie-style gardens, cottage borders, or large-scale mass plantings.
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Wildlife and Pollinator Gardens: Tall, nectar-rich selections like Sweet Black-Eyed Susan and Deamii are magnets for bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. Their seed heads later provide winter food for finches and sparrows. Plant them alongside Coneflowers, Bee Balm, and Russian Sage for a continuous pollinator buffet.
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Cut Flower Gardens: Unique varieties like Cherry Brandy and MiniBeckia® Flame add drama to bouquets with their bold red and flame-colored petals. Their sturdy stems hold up well in vases, and they pair beautifully with Zinnias, Dahlias, and Sunflowers.
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Containers and Patios: Smaller forms such as Little Suzy and Little Goldstar thrive in patio pots, balcony planters, and even urban gardens. Combine them with trailing Petunias, Geraniums, or Sunpatiens for season-long container color.
- Seasonal Color Extension: Late-blooming varieties like Deamii keep color alive when most summer annuals are fading. Plant them near autumn stars like Asters and Sedums to ensure a vibrant garden that bridges summer and fall.
Together, these Black-Eyed Susans can be layered to create season-round interest - compact types in the front, mid-sized in the middle, and tall, fragrant, or showy types at the back. The result is a sunny tapestry that feels both natural and intentional, buzzing with life from June until frost.
Wildlife and Ecology Impact
Black-Eyed Susans are ecological powerhouses! Their nectar supports bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds! In fall and winter, their seed heads feed finches, sparrows, and chickadees. The dense foliage offers shelter for beneficial insects. By planting multiple varieties, you create a long-lasting pollinator buffet and a sustainable garden ecosystem!
These hardy perennials prove that beauty and function can go hand in hand. Add them to your yard, and you'll be rewarded with color, fragrance, and a thriving habitat for wildlife.
Happy Planting!
