Backyard Gardener: Black-eyed Susan – America’s favorite wildflower – News and Sentinel

Jul 11, 2025
(Photo Illustration – Backyard Gardener – MetroCreativeConnection – JJ Barrett)
Hello, Mid-Ohio Valley farmers and gardeners! It has definitely turned into a hot summer. However, we have plenty of moisture this year, compared to last year’s drought.
Speaking of hot and dry, the plant I will talk about can handle those type of conditions: the black-eyed Susan, one of America’s favorite wildflowers. This was probably my Aunt Faye’s favorite flower, which she grew in her many flower beds around her house. She was an avid gardener and devoted mother and grandmother. She passed away on June 28 and will be greatly missed.
A great recommendation for summer perennial flower beds is the black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), a member of the aster (Asteraceae) family. It thrives in full sun; handles poor, dry soil; and blooms throughout summer and early fall. The bright petals and dark center attract pollinators.
These flowers are easy to grow and resistant to harsh conditions and disease. The plant forms a mound of foliage topped with a bright display of flowers characterized by brown centers surrounded by red, orange, yellow or golden petals. Their low maintenance makes them a popular choice for gardeners.
Black-eyed Susans are native to both damp woodlands and dry prairies in North America. The Rudbeckia genus includes approximately 23 species in North America
Swedish taxonomist Carl Linnaeus assigned the scientific name, Rudbeckia hirta in honor of his botany teacher Olof Rudbeck. In Latin, the word “hirta” means hairy and refers to the stem and leaves of this plant, which, along with the roots, are covered with bristly hairs.
The root system is fibrous. Root hairs substantially increase the surface area available for water absorption and the leaf hairs also reduce water loss. The hairy nature of this plant allows it to survive in hot, dry conditions.
Rudbeckia’s common name, black-eyed Susan, describes the flower’s center, which is typically dark and raised in a cone or beehive shape. The plant is native to our area and wild varieties can be found growing along county roads and uncut meadows.
Black-eyed Susan’s range in height from 18 to 72 inches. Recommended plant spacing is 18 inches apart for shorter varieties and 24 inches for taller varieties.
Both native wildflowers and cultivated varieties of black-eyed Susan bring a host of benefits to flower and raised gardens. They bloom from mid-July until frost, attract butterflies and provide cut flowers.
The yellow petals are a target for many pollinators. A close examination of the center “eye” reveals it is actually hundreds of individual small flowers, each holding nectar for bees, small wasps, flies, butterflies and moths to consume.
Purchasing transplants is probably the best option for most backyard gardeners. Black-eyed Susan’s can also be started from divisions from a friend, neighbor or family member’s flower bed. Most greenhouses and plant nurseries carry black-eyed Susan plants (ensure the plant is labeled Rudbeckia). Rudbeckia can be planted in the garden in late spring or fall, about six weeks before the first frost.
Black-eyed Susan plants will self-seed once established, but do not expect the best results from sowing purchased seeds directly into the ground. Similar to other native plants, Rudbeckia seeds germinate best if they experience a period of cold that mimics winter (called stratification).
Choose a sunny, well-drained location (at least six hours of direct sunlight). Although they grow best in full sun, black-eyed Susans can tolerate partial shade. They can adapt to clay, alkaline or acid pH and gravelly soils. Once established, they are heat- and drought-tolerant, blooming from July into October.
Research indicates that planting several Rudbeckia together will attract more pollinating insects. The flowers will develop 10-14 weeks after the seed is planted and should persist throughout the summer while other plants wilt.
There are several cultivated varieties to choose from. One of the most popular and recommended varieties is “Goldsturm,” growing 24 inches tall. It is the most famous variety of the entire black-eyed Susan family and an excellent plant for mass planting or naturalizing.
“Autumn Colors” and “Cherry Brandy” are technically biennials with gold, orange, brown and red petals. They are treated as annuals and replanted yearly, though they may also reseed. These cultivars would be appropriate for containers.
“American Gold Rush” is blanketed by yellow-gold, 3-inch flowers with arching petals surrounding cone-shaped, black-brown centers. It has a naturally dome-like, compact form that does not require pinching to shape. It grows up to 27 inches tall and 40 inches wide and is resistant to Septoria leaf spot.
“Herbsonne” or “Autumn Sun” (Rudbeckia laciniata) most resembles ancestors of the wild black-eyed Susan. Yellow petals bend downward from its greenish eye, which darkens with time. It can reach 6 to 7 feet in height.
Black-eyed Susans have few serious problems. Their coarse, hairy foliage provides some deer resistance, but they can suffer from powdery mildew. Plants can also be infected by the fungal disease Septoria leaf spot. Thinning plants and avoiding overhead watering may help alleviate these diseases.
Deadhead faded blooms to encourage more profuse flowering. When they stop blooming in the fall, do not prune plants to the soil level till after the frost. The plants are still gathering energy into the roots for next season, and birds will feast on the mature nutritious seeds of the flower heads.
Contact me at the Wood County WVU Extension Office 304-424-1960 or e-mail me at jj.barrett@mail.wvu.edu with questions. Good luck, and until next time, Happy Gardening!

Copyright © 2025 Parkersburg Newspapers, Inc. | https://www.newsandsentinel.com | 519 Juliana St., Parkersburg, WV 26101 | 304-485-1891

source

About The Author

Gilliam Nii Lighter

See author's posts