
Do Black Eyed Susans need a lot of Sun?
The black-eyed susan flower (rudbeckia hirta) grows best in full sun. Full sun is defined as at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Black-eyed susans can tolerate partial shade, but 6–8 hours of sunlight really is ideal for these yellow flowers.
How to grow Black Eyed Susan plants by Garden hobbies?
Method 2 Method 2 of 2: Caring for Your Susans
- Water your plants when the soil becomes dry. Black eyed Susans are surprisingly drought-tolerant after they become established.
- Mulch the area around your Black Eyed Susans. Spread a 2-inch depth of organic mulch over the soil around the plants to help retain moisture in the soil.
- Remove dead flowers. ...
- Divide Black Eyed Susan plants every three years. ...
How long does a Black Eyed Susan take to grow?
You can also sow seeds directly in the garden, though you may not get blooms until the following year. How long does it take for black eyed Susan to grow from seed? It takes 7-14 days for black eyed Susan seeds to germinate in warm soil, then anywhere from 90-120 days to mature enough to bloom.
How to grow Black Eyed Susan vine at home?
Propagating a Black-Eyed Susan Vine
- Sow from Seed. If you live in warmer, evergreen climates, you can sow black-eyed Susan seed directly into the soil where you want the vines to grow ...
- Create Herbaceous Stem Cuttings. The other way to propagate your black-eyed Susan vines is to use herbaceous stem cuttings. ...
- Self Propagation. ...

What part of the black-eyed Susan is the seed?
Look for the very small black seeds deep within the center cones of the mature flowers when they're ready to be deadheaded. Find the seeds by breaking apart the ripe center cones of the flowers on a smooth, flat surface; then collect the seeds and store them in a paper bag until it's time to plant them.
Can you plant seeds from black-eyed Susans?
Planting Rudbeckia from Seed: Sprinkle the seeds on top of regular seed starting mix about six weeks before the last frost date. Do not cover the seed as they need light to germinate. Plant your seedlings outdoors after any danger of frost has passed.
How do you harvest Rudbeckia seeds?
0:081:24How to collect rudbeckia seeds at the end of summer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd we just put them over the envelope. And sniffing in there I never get another one sniffing inMoreAnd we just put them over the envelope. And sniffing in there I never get another one sniffing in there you get an idea. I'll just go for the tidy looking seed for something that's got any insects.
Do Black Eyed Susan seeds need to be frozen?
Black-Eyed Susan vines can be started from seed purchased from our store or from seeds you collect and save from growing the vine yourself. Simply collect the dried seed pods from the vine after it has bloomed and store them in a plastic bag. They will remain viable for at least two years if kept dry and not frozen.
Should I soak Black Eyed Susan seeds?
Soak the large, hard seeds in water for a day or two before planting. Black-eyed Susan vines don't like having their roots disturbed, so it helps if you start the seed in peat or paper pots that will biodegrade when planted with the seedling.
How long do Black Eyed Susan seeds take to germinate?
7 to 10 daysWhen to Plant Black-eyed Susan. If direct-seeding, plant in moist, well-draining, warm (70º to 75ºF) soil. Indoors, sow seeds 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost. Germination takes 7 to 10 days.
Do Rudbeckia reseed themselves?
The flowers are a bright and showy yellow and make perfect cut flowers and are attractants for pollinators and beneficial insects. Rudbeckia hirta is a short-lived perennial that should be treated as an annual. It may likely endure few winters, but will often self-seed prolifically.
When should I plant Black-Eyed Susan seeds?
Plant black-eyed Susans in either the spring or early fall. As long as they have a chance to establish roots before the weather gets either extremely hot or extremely cold, they'll be fine.
How do I propagate black-eyed Susans?
You can propagate perennial black-eyed Susans by division in early spring, just as growth begins to develop, or in the fall after they finish flowering. Simply dig up the root ball and cut it with a sharp knife, making sure each division has roots. Replant the divisions about 12 to 18 inches apart.
Do you cut back black-eyed Susans in the fall?
In autumn, cut Black Eyed Susan back to about 4” tall (10 cm.) or, if you wouldn't mind a few more Black Eyed Susan plants, let the last blooms go to seed for the birds. The seed heads can also be cut and dried to propagate new plants.
Can you plant Black Eyed Susan seeds in the spring?
Both types of black-eyed Susan plants are easy to grow from seeds and should be planted in spring, early summer, or in the fall when the soil temperature is between 60 and 70℉ (15,5-21℃).
Do black-eyed Susans come back every year?
Blooming mainly in summer, black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) commonly grow 24 inches tall with signature yellow to orange petals and a dark center point. Although the blossoms appear fragile, these perennials have a strong root system that often allows the plant to rejuvenate itself every year.
How long can I store Black Eyed Susan seeds?
ANSWER: Yes, you can store your leftover Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan) seed until next year (spring or fall) as long as you take a couple of simple precautions to ensure the seed stays viable.
How do you grow black eyed Susan vines from seed?
Soaking the seeds in warm water overnight before sowing will speed germination. Press the seeds into the soil, covering completely. Seeds should germinate in 10-21 days. Plants grown in containers can be overwintered indoors in a warm, very bright room.
How do you save black eyed Susan vine seeds?
0:012:08How To Collect Black Eyed Susan Seeds - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf your clippings are still green lay them out on some newspaper to dry for a week or two pop offMoreIf your clippings are still green lay them out on some newspaper to dry for a week or two pop off the seed heads from the stems. And drop them in a jar.
Does Rudbeckia hirta need cold stratification?
If you're starting a new patch, plant them in fall or, for spring plantings, treat them to a period of cold stratification for 30 to 90 days prior to sowing. Start your Rudbeckia seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks prior to your last spring frost, or outside when the temperatures are reliably above 65°F.
How many seeds does a black eyed Susan plant have?
One single Black Eyed Susan plant can yield 1000 or more seeds depending on the available number of blooms in a growing season. Your only competition for harvesting the seed is the birds, particularly gold finches who love to land on the seed heads and pick out the seeds.
How much does a black eyed Susan cost?
You can then grow as many plants as you want, or your garden can handle for basically no money! Black Eyed Susans typically cost between $10-$20 in a garden center. Well, by saving your own seed you can propagate hundreds of plants for little to no money.
What is the name of the black eyed Susan?
Black-Eyed Susans belong to the genus Rudbeckia, which contains over 25 species of flowers. Most of these species will produce flowers with yellow petals and dark black centers (and very …. Continue reading. How to grow Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) from seed. Growit Buildit.
How long does it take to get 95% live seed?
Shake the contents again, making sure to hold the light tight. After 30 seconds of vigorous, variable shaking, dump the contents through the kitchen strainer again, onto a clean paper plate. The result should be 95% pure live seed!
Why save flower seeds?
Save Flower Seeds To Save Money While Expanding Your Garden! Saving flower seeds to propagate new plants in your garden is a fun fall activity. I will try to outline … Continue reading
How long do you dry seed heads?
Dry the seed heads in a paper bag. For about a week.
When do seeds form on a sage?
A few weeks after the flowers have bloomed, seeds will form. I generally return and start checking about a month after blooming.
How to grow black eyed Susan from seed?
How to Grow Black-Eyed Susan From Seed. Black-eyed Susans can be started indoors, from seed. Start seed about six to eight weeks before the last expected frost. Perennial varieties will germinate best if the seed containers are kept in the refrigerator or a similarly cold place for four weeks after seeding.
What flowers go well with black eyed Susans?
Black-eyed Susans and other Rudbeckia plants work equally well as a complement to blue and purple flowers, like Russian sage and Veronica, or mixed in with other jewel tones, such as sedum 'Autumn Joy', purple coneflower, and New England asters. Black-eyed Susans make great cut flowers.
How long does it take for a Rudbeckia to grow?
You can plant it after the last frost in spring. It will flower in its first summer, but it can take two to three years to reach full height. The size of Rudbeckia plants varies greatly, from dwarf (1 foot tall) varieties like 'Becky' and 'Toto' to the giant Rudbeckia maxima, which can reach 9 feet tall.
What is the name of the flower with large seed heads?
Fast-growing black-eyed Susan is easily the most commonly known Rudbeckia , with its daisy-like flowers with large seed heads. It also has the scratchy, hairy leaves that are characteristic of its genus (this may not be one of its best features, but it does help keep pests away).
What temperature does a sage plant like?
This plant likes warmer temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and more. It handles both drought and humidity well.
Can black eyed Susans grow in full sun?
You will get the best flowering from your black-eyed Susans in full sun, but they can handle partial shade.
Is a black eyed Susan deer resistant?
Black-eyed Susans are deer-resistant once their leaves become coarse and hairy, but tender young growth may get nibbled.

1 – Find Some Plants
2 – Collect Seed Heads
- A few weeks after the flowers have bloomed, seeds will form. I generally return and start checking about a month after blooming. After the seed head is starting to turn brown / dry out you can harvest the Rudbeckia Seed Heads. You should cut the seed head off either a couple of inches (5 cm) below the seed head. Or, carefully hold the seed head and cut just below it. Place these int…
3 – Remove Chaff from The Seed Head
- Here is where my process for saving Black Eyed Susan seeds is the BEST! As you will know by now, the disc or cone of the seed head is just black and smooth. It would take a long time to just pluck all the black stuff from the seed head by hand. Furthermore, the black stuff that comes out is about 50% chaff and 50% seed. So………….. Get a container tha...
4 – Remove Seed from Seed Head
- Now, here is where my process is the BEST. Take the seed heads that you’ve already shaken up, and put them back into the plastic container. Then add some small, heavy and hard objects to the plastic container. I use a 3/8 bolt, washer, and nut. You could use a rock, or some large coins even. But, the main point is that you’ve already removed most of the chaff. So, putting the seed …
5 – Store The Seed
- I store my Echinacea seed in random plastic containers or jars. Plastic baggies or zip-lock bags work well too. In my experience, the seed will be viable for several years after harvest. But in each passing year the percentage of seed that will sprout decreases a bit. Also, I made a video describing the process a while back on Youtube. I’ve linked to the video below, so you can see t…
Why You Should Save Your Own Seed
- Black Eyed Susans are beautiful native plants with high wild life value. And any gardener with a hint of do-it-yourself ethos in them should save seeds from Rudbeckia to propagate more plants! One single Black Eyed Susan plant can yield 1000 or more seeds depending on the available number of blooms in a growing season. Your only competition for harvesting the seed is the bird…
and Before You Go…
- You may want to check out our comprehensive guide on saving flower seeds! I collect a lot of my seed from the wild, as that is the cheapest way to get seed. It also ensures I am growing plants that are well adapted for my local ecosystem. Check it out for some more tips!