Black-Eyed Susan

Description

The state flower of Maryland has 2″-4″ daisy-like flowers with orange-yellow petals. This beautiful, heirloom rudbeckia blooms over a long period–at least 8 weeks; winter seed cones supply food for birds, too. Black-Eyed Susan is a short-lived perennial (USDA zones 3-7), that may come back for a second or third year, but is often treated as an annual. Great cut flower. North American native wildflower; may re-seed itself and is an excellent addition to wildflower areas.

Variety Info

• Family: Asteraceae
• Native: North America prairies
• Hardiness: Short-lived perennial in USDA zones 3–7, but usually treated as an annual, because it does not reliably come back year after year. May self-sow.
• Exposure: Full sun
• Bloom Period: Summer to frost
• Plant Dimensions: 24″–36″ tall, 12″–24″ wide
• Variety Info: 2″–4″ wide, yellow flowers with a purplish-brown center.
• Attributes: Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flower, Deer Resistant

Sowing Info

• When to Sow Outside: 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, and as late as 2 months before your average first fall frost date.
• When to Start Inside: 8 to 10 weeks before your average last frost date. If started inside early enough, may bloom the first year.
• Days to Emerge: 10–15 days
• Seed Depth: Press into surface
• Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 12″–24″
• Thinning: When 1″– 2″ tall, thin to 1 every 12″–24″

Growing Info

• Harvesting: For longest vase life, harvest flowers in the morning, choosing those that have just unfurled all their petals.