Black Eyed Susan
Black eyed Susan plants are one of the classic backbone plants of the mid to late summer perennial garden. I have grown them for many years and can say with some confidence that I rarely met one I did not want to keep in my garden.
The plant Rudbeckia (botanic name for black eyed susan) was named after Olaus Olai Rudbeck (1660- 1740) a Swedish physician and botanist. And while black eyed is simple – the plants have a black eye - none of my resources tell me who Susan was. :-)
Growing Conditions
The trick to growing black eyed susan plants is to give them full sun in decent soil. Moderate fertility will give you the best flower show so avoid the edges of lawns where lawn food will give too much nitrogen.
Mostly in shades of yellow and gold, the plants range in height from 18 inches to a full 72 inches in height and bloom in late summer into fall. Planting is 18 inches apart for the shorter varieties and 24 inches apart for the larger plants over 3 feet tall.
Propagation
For those who like to propagate plants, black eyed susans are mostly done from seed or division. Note the hybrids will not come true from seed so division is the preferred method.
Recommended Varieties
R. fulgida is a 24 to 36 inch tall species that is an excellent and long-lived perennial plant in our gardens.
‘Goldsturm’ 24 inches tall and is the most famous of the entire black eyed susan family. This is the one that is most often seen in garden photographs. It is an excellent plant for mass planting or naturalizing.
'Viette’s Little Suzy’ 12 to 18 inch tall form with medium yellow flowers. It starts blooming mid to late summer and blooms right through fall and the amazing foliage turns deep mahogany in fall.
R. hirta All of the these black eyed susan plants are either biennials or short lived perennials in the garden. Do grow them on lighter soil (sandier) as they will die on wet or clay soils.
‘Indian Summer’ is an award winning black eyed susan and its massive flowers deserve a spot in every garden. It is an excellent cut flower and shouts its flowering display across the garden. My only regret is that it does not live for very long in my garden.
R. laciniata hortensia or ‘Golden Glow’ This old fashioned favorite became known as the “Outhouse Plant” in pioneer times because that was usually the place they were found. These are big, strong, relatively fast-spreading plants and this was one place they could grow with impunity. This plant requires edging every few years to keep it in bounds. It easily hits 8 feet tall each year and has double golden yellow flowers for the late summer throughout the fall season.
R. maxima is a hardy perennial that grows to 6 feet tall with clear golden flowers in the fall. This little known plant is one of my favorite family members.
R. triloba another tall favorite that reaches 5 to 6 feet with yellow to orange blooms.
Common Problem
If you see the lower leaves of this plant turning brown and twisting, the odds are that you have powdery mildew or one of the numerous leaf spot fungal problems this plant is susceptible to.
You may want to start an organic spray programme.
This question area is for the Perennial Daisy flower. If you want to ask questions about the annual vine, click here.
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What Other Visitors Have Asked
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Pruning Black Eyes Susans before blooming I have planted black eyed susans and day lilies interspersed together in my garden. The black eyed susans are overtaking and growing much higher than ...
How To Identify Biennials and Perennials I've just moved into a house that had beautiful and plentiful black eyed susan's. I'm reading that these are biennials or short lived perennials. How ...
End of Season
Do I cut the Blackeyed Susan back for winter or let is die completely and pull out of the ground?
Doug says that if this is a perennial plant - cut ...
when is best time to transplant
When is the best time to transplant - fall or spring?
Doug says the best time to transplant is in the early spring - the earlier the better assuming ...
Blackeyed Susan yellow pastel I am assuming that this is a variety of blackeyed susan. I saw this growing in Maine and took a photo for identification. It has a yellow center, which ...
extending blooming time Can you extend blooming time by cutting off the tops during bloom? We are planning a garden party Labor Day weekend, but fear the susans will no longer ...
are they wild flowers I pulled a bunch out last night thinking they were just weeds as they overgrowing. I doubt if I got all of the roots - will they grow back and if so any ...
No Blooms No Growth of Black Eyed Susan There are no blooms, no growth on my black eyed Susan plants - questions and answers by garden author Doug Green
when to plant in the South
when do you plant black eyed susans in Northeast florida and when can you expect them to bloom?
Doug says you can plant the annuals at the same time ...
black eyed susan i think i am a new gardener. i think i have b-e-s. they are about 3 feet tall but have long since flopped over. and are even covering some of the other palnts ...
Controlling Growth of Black Eyed Susans Questions and answers about contolling the growth of black eyed Susans by garden writer Doug Green
Are these Black eyed Susans?
What type of flower is this. I thought it might be a black eye susan, but the centers are not dark.
Doug says it's a variety of Echinacea so yes, it ...
Pruning Black-Eyed-Susans Questions and answers for pruning black-eyed-susans - the how, when, where and why you really need to know
propagating black eyed susan Questions and answer about propagating black eyed susan by garden writer Doug Green
black eyed susan turning brown
What is causing the plant leaves to turn brown?
Doug says he's not there and you don't describe how the plant is growing but the main disease of this ...
Temporarily Moving Black Eyed Susans We are having a flower box redone. The box is filled with Black Eyed Susans and they will have to be removed and then replanted in the box after the job ...
An animal is eating the tops off my black eyed susans I am not sure what animal, maybe rabbits, that are eating the tops off the black eyed susans that are just coming up again in my garden. They are not bloomed ...
Perfect Soil!
What is the soil type that is needed for the Black Eyed Susan to grow in? Also what is the best soil type if it can grow in multiple ones.
Doug says ...
Black Eyed Susans in NYC
Hello, I live in NYC, I have a balcony that gets a lot of sun. Is it possible to successfully grow black eyed susans in my flower box?
cheers,
Kevin ...
Keeping through the winter
Hello,
I have this variety:
If I trim it back in the winter and move it indoors, do you think it will return in the summer?
Doug says that the ...
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