Rudbeckia triloba - Common Black Eyed Susan

This biennial or short lived perennial produces sunny yellow daisy flowers with brown centers; tolerates light shade, drought and a wide range of soils; best treated as an annual; wonderful along borders or in containers

Height: Plant Height: 24 inches. Sun: full sun. Hardiness zone: 4a.

Ornamental features

Brown Eyed Susan has masses of beautiful yellow daisy flowers with brown eyes at the ends of the stems from mid summer to mid fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its lobed leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Landscape

Brown Eyed Susan is an herbaceous biennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Recommended for: Mass Planting, Border Edging, General Garden Use, Container Planting.

Planting and growing

Brown Eyed Susan will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity extending to 3 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 14 inches apart. It grows at a fast rate, and tends to be biennial, meaning that it puts on vegetative growth the first year, flowers the second, and then dies.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.