
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.
What type of plant is a Black Eyed Susan?
Black-Eyed Susan is a stiff, moderately fast growing, upright branching biennial or short-lived perennial that is native to the eastern United States but has become endemic throughout North America. Because it blooms in the first year when planted from seed in early spring, it is seen as an annual.
How do you care for a Black Eyed Susan?
- Remove dead plant debris in spring to reduce the risk of infection. ...
- Cutting back black-eyed Susan after flowering may result in a second, smaller bloom in late fall.
- Leave some dried seed heads on the plants in the fall to attract birds.
- After the first season, black-eyed Susans can reseed themselves.
How to plant a Black Eyed Susan?
When and Where to Plant Black Eyed Susans ( Rudbeckia)
- Prepare the site by removing existing weeds and loosening the soil.
- Make a hole a few inches wider that your young plant;
- Place your Rudbeckia in the hole (disturb the roots with your fingers if they're coming in thick), backfill with soil, tamp gently and water well.

Will 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.
Should black-eyed Susan be cut back 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 black-eyed Susan survive winter?
Plants in containers will bloom over winter if kept in a sunny place and night temperatures are above 60 degrees. In frost-free climates this vine is perennial and will grow very dense. The vine will quickly fill narrow vertical spaces with color. Thunbergia alata grows best in rich, moist soil in full sun.
Will black-eyed Susans come back after winter?
Perennials, such as the popular Sweet Coneflower, will make an appearance year after year. Annuals can be planted each season, but they may pop up on their own after leaving seeds behind in the fall. This is common, as most varieties of Black Eyed Susan are self-seeding.
Are you supposed to deadhead black-eyed Susans?
Black-eyed Susans will bloom longer if you deadhead them, which means cutting off spent, faded, or dried up flowers once they're past their prime. Always cut the stem back to just beyond a leaf so you don't leave dead, dried-up stems poking out.
How do you prepare black-eyed Susans for the winter?
After the first hard frost, cover the plants with a foot of loose mulch, such as straw. In warmer climates where snow is light or rare, you can choose to leave the plants until spring to shelter and feed wildlife, or cut the plants back. Any diseased plants should be removed and placed in the trash.
What is the difference between Brown Eyed Susan and Black-Eyed Susan?
There are a few differences between them: brown-eyed susans flower a bit later and bloom for a longer period of time, grow much taller (up to 5 feet), and have smaller blooms than black-eyed susans.
What is the longest blooming perennial?
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What is the hardiest black-eyed Susan?
Black-eyed Susan 'Toto' This variety of Black-eyed Susan is a tough, upright growing flower. Toto can tolerate droughts and is deer resistant. These sunny flowers do best when planted in an area with full sun, well drained soil and good air circulation.
How long do black-eyed Susans last?
The flowers of the black-eyed Susan, which occur singly atop the tall stems, make attractive additions to cut flower arrangements, with a “vase life” of six to 10 days.
How long do black-eyed Susans live?
When cut, black-eyed Susans can live in a vase for six to 10 days.
What perennials should not be cut back in the fall?
Perennials needing protection. Don't cut back marginally hardy perennials like garden mums (Chrysanthemum spp.), anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), red-hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria), and Montauk daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum).
Should all perennials be cut back in fall?
As the first light frosts begin to hit plants in mid to late fall, the foliage of perennial plants will begin to die back. Once this occurs, it is the ideal time to begin cutting plants back.
Should you cut down coneflowers in the fall?
Fall/Winter Pruning If you like to have a tidy garden through the winter, then you can cut back your coneflowers after they go dormant in the late fall or early winter. Cutting back the dormant stalks and seed heads in the fall will also decrease the chance of the plant naturalizing, or spreading.
Why are the leaves on my Black Eyed Susans turning black?
Black-Eyed Susan Spots Black spots on Rudbeckia, also known as black-eyed Susan, are very common and occur in a large percentage of the population each year. There are many causes, but the most common by far is the fungal disease called Septoria leaf spot, a common disease of tomatoes.
What is the hairy version of Black Eyed Susan?
Also, the hairy version of Black-Eyed Susan ( Rudbeckia hirta) tends to have a slightly higher tolerance for cold winter temperatures.
What is the botanical name for the hairy black eye Susan?
To keep things basic, plants with the botanical name, Rudbeckia hirta, include different types of hairy Black-Eyed Susan.
How long does Rudbeckia hirta bloom?
So, you also may find types of Rudbeckia hirta in the “annual” section of the store, along with other plants that only bloom for one season.
What is the longest lived Rudbeckia?
Specifically, it’s the longer-lived Rudbeckia fulgida.
What is a fuzzy black eyed Susan?
Fuzzy Black-Eyed Susan plants are known as Rubeckia hirta, and they tend to be shorter-lived.
How to tell if a sage is fuzzy?
Touch the leaves and stems to see if they feel fuzzy.
What color are black eyed Susan leaves?
The foliage of black-eyed Susan is unobtrusive. Because the foliage is covered in coarse hairs, rabbits and deer rarely bother it. Leaves are generally a deep green color that blend well in a mixed garden bed.
How to get rid of black eyed Susan?
The best way to handle this problem is to clean up dead debris before new foliage has emerged in spring and after the first frost in fall. Doing so will remove spores that could infect new foliage. Plant black-eyed Susan in full sun with good air circulation to also help prevent fungus growth.
How do you know if a black eyed Susan is blooming?
Because black-eyed Susan blooms when other summer perennials begin to fade, this plant is a sign that fall is around the corner. The blooms last for weeks and form large masses of color. The most common black-eyed Susan flowers have a single row of gold petals surrounding a black or brown center. Thanks to new innovations to this plant, you can now find blooms that have multiple rows of petals. Petal colors can range from bright gold and orange to deep red and brown.
Do black eyed Susans bloom?
At their peak bloom, black-eyed Susans steal the garden show. These natives lend themselves well to mass plantings, creating a pool of gold with their multitude of flowers. Black-eyed Susans have long been a staple in perennial gardens, and for good reason. They need little care to make such a breathtaking display.
Is black eyed Susan perennial or annual?
Black-eyed Susan comes in both annual and perennial varieties. Many newer varieties are annuals in northern climates but hardy in the South. Be sure to check hardiness zones when shopping for black-eyed Susan.
What is a black eyed Susan?
Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) Black-eyed Susans are so floriferous and distinctive that they are easily recognized by gardeners in the Northern Hemisphere. Their broad branched clumps of golden daisies with brown cones are long-blooming, offering a late summer, constant color intensity that cannot be equaled by any other flower.
When did Rudbeckia win the Perennial Plant of the Year Award?
Perennial Rudbeckia fulgida, ‘Goldstrum’ won the Perennial Plant of the Year Award in 1999 a sure sign of the excellence of this fine perennial.
What shrubs are good companions for Rudbeckia?
They are also good companions for the blue-lace of Perovskia or Russian Sage, tall Sedums, and any of the perennial grasses because of the differences in both textures, heights and colors.
Is a black eyed Susan perennial or annual?
Its close relative, Gloriosa Daisies, Rudbeckia hirta ( which are also called by the common name Black-eyed Susans) are not perennials but annuals, or short-lived perennials. This resemblance, plus having the same name, is confusing to a gardener who assumes they have planted the perennial.
Is Rudbeckia fulgida perennial or annual?
Rudbeckia fulgida is the perennial and Rudbeckia hirta is the annual. Other differences in the two plants are that hirta self-seeds easily and f ulgida is propagated vegetatively by cuttings or division and does not spread.
What is the name of the black eyed Susan?
The genus name for all Black-Eyed Susans is Rudbeckia. It's for the Rudbecks, a very famous Swedish father and son both named Olof. Olof the Elder (shown in the photo) lived from 1630-1702 and was a world- famous scientist known mostly for his accomplishments in medicine (anatomy) and liguistics, but was also known for studies in music and botany. Throughout his career, he had the strong support of Sweden's famous Queen Christina, and was a celebrity at her court. He established the first botanical garden in Sweden, which was originally called Rudbeck's Garden.
Where are black eyed Susans found?
So like today, Black-Eyed Susans were probably across the continent from the beginning . Today, they are common in all 50 states and across Canada.
What is the most popular wildflower on the road?
Rudbeckia hirta, the favorite roadside wildflower. This is the gorgeous gold wildflower you see everywhere—growing on its own, often in great golden sheets of color along the highway, in unused fields, often in "disturbed ground" and maybe in your own backyard.
What is the name of the little vine with yellow trumpet blooms?
Trading on the fame of the real thing, someone named a small tropical vine that grows easily indoors the "Black-Eyed Susan Vine." Surely that was smart marketing, but that little vine with its little yellow trumpet blooms is Thunbergia alata, nowhere near the Rudbeckia genus.
Why is Susan's gold and purple blooming together?
Because both are basically biennials, and her gold plus his bright reds and purples blooming together is a sight to gladden any gardener's heart. Since Susan is a North American native, this tale tells us English colonists must have given the golden beauty her name when they arrived in the New World.
Is the center of a wildflower black?
And beyond legend, her name graces several of our most important and popular wildflower species. (By the way, the flower's eye, or center, is not really black; it's dark brown, but that's not important.)
Who wrote the poem "Black Eyed Susan"?
Well, no one's sure, but the legend says it all comes from an Old English poem of the post-Elizabethan era entitled simply, "Black-Eyed Susan," written by a very famous poet of the day named John Gay, 1685-1732. (Painting at right by Winslow Homer.):
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 tall does Rudbeckia Hirta grow?
Rudbeckia hirta 'Indian Summer': displays large yellow flowers, and reaches 3- to 4-feet tall. Rudbeckia hirta 'Toto Rustic': features autumnal hues; there's also golden 'Toto' and pale 'Toto Lemon'; all grow to about 1-foot tall.
What is the name of the plant with yellow petals and dark center disks?
Common Diseases. Back to Top. With their bright yellow petals and dark center disks, black-eyed Susans ( Rudbeckia hirta) have become a garden staple. There is a great deal of variety within the Rudbeckia genus, and most species are true workhorses with very few problems. Fast-growing black-eyed Susan is easily the most commonly known Rudbeckia, ...
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).
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.
