Black-Eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta

🌼 Shipped in 3.5" x 9" deep tree pots – strong, healthy plants grown with care on our Southeastern U.S. homestead.

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a beloved native wildflower that lights up the garden with bold golden blooms and dark central cones. Quick to establish and fast to flower, this species is perfect for pollinator gardens, meadows, and sunny borders.

Often grown as a biennial or short-lived perennial, Rudbeckia hirta is known for reseeding readily and returning year after year in naturalized settings. It’s especially attractive to native bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects and provides winter seed for birds if left standing.

Latin Name: Rudbeckia hirta

Size at Maturity: 1.5–3 ft tall, 1–2 ft wide

USDA Zone: 3–8 (short-lived perennial; reseeds easily)

Site & Soil: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil; adaptable to poor, sandy, or clay soils; drought-tolerant once established

Pests & Diseases: Very low-maintenance; may experience minor leaf spot in humid areas

🌼 Uses:

• Attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators

• Seeds feed finches and songbirds in fall and winter

• Great for naturalizing, prairie gardens, and sunny borders

• Native to much of the Eastern and Central U.S.

• Excellent cut flower with a long vase life

🛠 Growing Tips:

• Allow plants to go to seed to encourage reseeding

• Cut back spent stems if tidy appearance is desired

• Combine with other natives like echinacea, coreopsis, or mountain mint for a pollinator-packed display

💡 Fun Fact:
Despite its delicate look, Rudbeckia hirta is a tough pioneer plant, often one of the first species to grow in disturbed soils and open fields.