Plant Type

Perennial

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Yellow

 

Flower Season

Summer, Fall

 

Leaf Color

Dark Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low, Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Ranch, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Foundation, Patio, Raised Planter, Walls / Fences

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Erosion Control, Mass Planting, Naturalizing

 

Attracts Wildlife

Birds, Butterflies

Golden yellow daisy-like flowers borne in abundance and over the heat of the summer makes Black-eyed Susan a garden mainstay. Blooms typically occur mid summer and continue into early fall. Petals are flat to recurved, and the central discs are prominent and reddish brown to purple. Makes an excellent cut flower, though the seeds are highly enjoyed by birds. Leaves are lance-shaped to oval and a deep green. Grows about 30 to 36 inches tall and wide. Not common in the trade as there are so many named cultivars available, such as 'Goldsturm' and 'Viette's Little Suzy.'

Grow in well drained soil and in full sun. Tolerates a range of soil types, including clay soil, dry soil, shallow soil, rocky soil. Drought and heat tolerant. Though prefers full sun, will tolerate a little shade. Rhizamatous habit means it spreads to form dense colonies, so just plan accordingly when you plant it. Leave flower stalks all winter as the seeds will feed the songbirds and provide winter interest. Cut back stalks and old foliage in late winter. Drought tolerant once established, but blooming period will be longer and more flowerful if watered periodically.