Black Eyed Susan

Brilliant Black-Eyed Susans at Nature Hills!

The Black-Eyed Susan plant (Rudbeckia) is a classic flowering perennial and blooms in mid to late summer when other plants are beginning to wind down!

Long bright-yellow ray petals surround raised velvety chocolate brown centers like their Coneflower cousins but grow upright and full of cheer like their Sunflower family relations! Try the orange-yellow blooms of Deamii Black-Eyed Susan, or the bi-color yellow and russet blooms of MiniBeckia™ Flame Rudbeckia!

Held on strong hairy stems atop mounds of coarse, hairy leaves in deep to medium green, the clumps of pointed foliage are rarely bothered by pests, diseases, or even deer and rabbits!

Forming dense mounds that spread politely, these herbaceous perennials are both heat-tolerant up to zones 8-10 and chill-resistant down to zones 2 to 4! There's sure to be a rugged Rudbeckia for you and your garden!

Wildlife Must-Haves

You'll love seeing more wildlife, as Black-Eyed Susans attract butterflies and hummingbirds! These are vital nectar and pollen resources for pollinators! Especially because these blossoms show up in the late summer and can bloom until autumn, feeding beneficial insects that are gearing up for migration and hibernation when they need it most!

Once the flowers go to seed, the raised cones, just like Coneflowers, are full of seeds that a wide variety of songbirds love to peck at! Goldfinch, Sparrows, and many other local birds will fill up on these easy-to-access seeds as they prepare for winter!

Rudbeckia In The Landscape

Black-Eyed Susans are quite drought tolerant and are great plants for very hot and dry areas of the garden. They are wonderful plants for borders, or naturalized in a native garden.

This plant makes excellent, long-lasting, bright cut flower arrangement additions! Choose the brilliantly hued Glitters Like Gold, or the vibrant cherry-red Cherry Brandy Black-Eyed Susan for incredible bouquets!

Plant with Milkweed and Coneflowers to create a naturalized native garden that benefits birds, butterflies, and bees alike! The late-season blooms meld perfectly with Asters and Sedum when mixed among spring and summer bloomers to extend your enjoyment of your 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.

Smaller Rudbeckia, like the dwarf Little Goldstar and Little Suzy, are perfect for smaller gardens, urban courtyards, and even container gardens! Enjoy these bold blooms anywhere sunny including rooftop gardens and balconies! Pot these sun-loving perennials up and display on patios and poolside plantings, and add vibrance to seating areas and front porches for seasonal décor!

Caring For Black-Eyed Susans

Black-Eyed Susans are easy to care for perfect for the novice gardener! These herbaceous perennials die back each winter and grow anew in the spring throughout a wide range of growing zones and conditions!

Rudbeckia prefers full sun, needing at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day for the most blooms and strongest growth. However, a few of the family can handle some partial shade like Deamii and Little Suzy, especially if it is afternoon shade in the hottest of their growing zone range.

All Rudbeckia needs very well-drained soil, but they are not picky about what soil type. They will not tolerate soggy conditions. If poor drainage is suspected, mound up your soil with 18-24 inches of native topsoil and plant in that berm, or plant your Black-Eyed Susan in a container instead.

Provide new installations with regular moderate moisture their first year, but once established, they become highly drought-tolerant! But as with any Xeric ornamental flowering plant, supplying them with supplemental moisture during these harsher times means enjoying their blooms and healthy growth longer!

Deadhead the first round of blooms to encourage reblooming, and you can then let the last blooms go to seed for your songbirds, winter interest, and to self-seed for free plants next year. However, Rudbeckia can self-seed a bit too well and become a problem in some areas, which is why Nature Hills employs Plant Sentry™ to remain compliant with all local, state, and federal agricultural regulations when shipping these plants around the country, keeping your local ecosystems safe!

You can easily deadhead in the fall to stop self-seeding, and even prune down the entire plant, removing the stems and leaves to your compost bin or yard waste each fall. It is especially important to remove the leaves and stems if your plant displays any signs of powdery mildew in the autumn as well to prevent fungal issues from overwintering. Otherwise, prune back your perennials in the spring before new growth emerges.

Divide your clumps every 3-5 years to maintain the plant's vigor and bloom count, providing your landscape with free plants!

Brown-Eyed Rays of Sunshine!

Add some sunny blooms to your bouquets, landscape, and backyard ecosystem with the hardy, brilliant, and beneficial flowering perennials!

Nature Hills has a wide selection of durable double-duty plants to enhance your world - delivered to your doorstep at the perfect planting time for your growing zone!

Order today online or give our expert customer service team a call at (402) 934-8116!