How to Grow And Care Black-eyed Susans

Black-eyed Susans are delightful flowering plants native to North America that can grow easily in gardens or meadows. They have cheerful daisy-like flowers with dark centers (the "black eyes") and brightly colored petals that radiate joy.

These plants typically grow 1 to 3 feet tall, sometimes even taller. Their leaves can reach 6 inches long, while the stalks can grow over 8 inches. The flowers themselves have a diameter of 2 to 3 inches.

Butterflies, bees, and other insects are attracted to the Black-eyed Susan flowers because of the sweet nectar inside. As the insects drink the nectar, they transfer pollen between plants, allowing the plants to produce seeds that can be carried away by the wind.

Black-eyed Susans come in many vibrant colors and sizes, so you can find options to fit any garden design. They are very versatile plants that can thrive in regular flower beds, raised beds, container gardens, or even butterfly gardens meant to attract pollinators.

Black-eyed Susan flowers need full sun to bloom their best. They will still grow in partial sun, but may not flower as much. The soil should be fertile and nutrient-rich, though these plants can tolerate some poor soil conditions.

When to Plant:

• Plant new black-eyed Susan plants in spring after the last frost, or in the fall
• If growing from seed, sow seeds about 6 weeks before your area's average last spring frost date
• Avoid planting in the hot summer months

How to Plant:

• Space new plants 18 inches apart
• Dig a hole slightly wider than the plant's root ball
• Place the plant in the hole and fill in around the roots with soil, gently packing it down
• Water well after planting

If starting seeds indoors:

• Sprinkle seeds on top of seed-starting soil, no need to cover them
• Transplant seedlings outside after all danger of frost has passed
• Space seedlings 12-18 inches apart, closer for the border, farther prevent spread

Black-eyed Susans can spread by self-seeding and underground stems. To control spread, remove flowers before seeds develop or dig up unwanted new plants. This prevents overcrowding of nearby plants.

Once black-eyed Susans (rudbeckias) are established in your garden, they require very little maintenance. When first planting, water new black-eyed Susans thoroughly. This helps them establish a strong root system as they get settled.

After that initial establishment period, supplemental watering is rarely needed except during extreme drought. 

Watering:

• Check soil moisture regularly by sticking your finger into the soil near the plants. Water when the top 2-3 inches become dry.
• Provide about 1 inch of water weekly if rainfall is insufficient.
• Avoid wetting the leaves, as moisture left on the foliage can promote fungal diseases.
• Ensure plants have a good spacing of 12-18 inches apart to allow for airflow and quicker drying of leaves after watering or rain.

Deadheading:

• Regularly remove faded/dead flowerheads by deadheading - snapping or pruning them off.
• Deadheading anytime during the growing season will prolong blooming and promote more flower production.
• It also prevents the plant from self-sowing too many seeds, which can lead to overcrowding of new seedlings.

Spring Maintenance:

• Cut back dead foliage and stems to about 2-3 inches above ground in early spring before new growth emerges.
• Removing old, dead plant matter reduces areas where disease or pests can overwinter.

Dividing:

• Black-eyed Susans can spread vigorously through underground stems called rhizomes.
• To control their spread and rejuvenate the plant, divide established perennial clumps every 3-4 years in spring.

Cutting Back in Fall:

• As winter approaches, leave the faded flowers/stems uncut if possible.
• The seeds provide food for overwintering birds and other wildlife.
• The dead stems and foliage help insulate the plant's crown and roots over winter.
• However, if self-seeding is a major issue, cut back spent flowers just below the foliage mound to reduce seeding.

But once settled in, black-eyed Susans can largely fend for themselves with their low-maintenance nature and drought tolerance compared to many other flowering plants. Provide basic care, and they'll flourish.

Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) produce seeds easily, making seed saving an economical way to grow more plants. You'll be able to harvest seeds multiple times throughout the summer and into fall as the blooms keep coming.

Since Black-eyed Susans bloom prolifically over an extended period, you'll likely have plenty of seeds to save for replanting your own garden. The seeds are also perfect for sharing extras with other gardeners.

Saving seeds from these cheerful flowers is an easy, cost-effective way to propagate more plants year after year. Just collect the mature seeds when the time is right for an endless supply!

When first establishing new Black-eyed Susan plants, whether from seed or transplants, you can optionally apply a small amount of all-purpose fertilizer. This can help give the young plants an extra nutrient boost as they get established.

However, fertilizing is not strictly necessary for Black-eyed Susans. These tough wildflowers are very low-maintenance and can typically thrive in average garden soil without heavy feeding.

Watch out for aphids and spider mites, which can affect the appearance of the foliage on your Black-eyed Susans.

For aphids:

• Encourage natural predators like ladybugs, which will help control aphid populations
• You can also try spraying the plants with a strong stream of water to dislodge the aphids

For spider mites:

• Spray the plants thoroughly with water every other day to remove the mites
• An insecticidal soap spray can also be applied, especially if only dealing with a few isolated plants

While annoying, these pests mainly cause cosmetic damage and don't typically kill the plants if controlled. If you frequently inspect your Black-eyed Susans and act quickly if you notice aphids or webbing from spider mites.

Using a few simple remedies like predator insects, strong water sprays, or insecticidal soap can keep these pests in check.

While the traditional Black-eyed Susan plants can grow 1-3 feet tall or more, there are also dwarf varieties available. The dwarf types max out at around 1 foot in height, making them perfect for growing in containers or smaller garden spaces.

You'll also find that Black-eyed Susans come in annual, biennial, and perennial varieties depending on the climate and your growing needs. 

Life Cycles:

• Some Rudbeckia varieties are annuals, completing their life cycle in a single growing season before self-seeding
• Others are biennials, taking two years - the first to grow foliage/roots, the second to flower, set seed, and die
• Perennial varieties will come back reliably year after year, flowering annually once established

Rudbeckia hirta

• One of the most widespread species, also known as black-eyed Susan or yellow oxeye daisy
• Technically a biennial, but often behaves as a short-lived perennial in gardens
• Self-seeds prolifically, allowing it to naturalize readily in suitable environments
• Sowing seeds 6 weeks before last spring frost will yield blooms the first season
• Countless hybrid cultivars have been developed from this species

Rudbeckia hirta Hybrids:

• Autumn Colors - Unique flowers in shades of yellow, orange, red and brown on 18-24 inch stems
• Becky Mixed - Compact 10-16 inch plants with lemon, golden-yellow, red and reddish-brown blooms
• Prairie Sun - AAS winner with 4-6 inch bright orange flowers aging to yellow tips on 28-32 inch plants
• Sonora - Standout 12-16 inch plants bearing large golden-yellow flowers with contrasting chocolate-brown centers
• Toto Gold - Dwarf 12-16 inches with classic yellow petals and dark central cones, ideal for containers

Long-Lived Perennial Types:

• Goldsturm (Rudbeckia fulgida) - Reliable, free-flowering perennial, stalwart of late summer/fall gardens
• Sweet (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) - Tall upright plants bearing masses of yellow flowers with darker centers, perfect for naturalized/meadow settings
• Gloriosa Daisies (Rudbeckia hirta 'Gloriosa') - Unique giant 4-5 inch semi-double bicolor blooms yellowing fading to russet, 12-36 inches, tolerates some shade

Annuals:

• Clasping Sunflower (Rudbeckia amplexicaulis) - Free-flowering annual growing just 1-2 feet tall, ideal for front border plantings

Some Rudbeckia flower varieties are annuals. This means the seeds sprout in the spring, the plants flower and make new seeds that same summer, and then the original plants die in the winter. Examples are the Clasping Sunflower.

But the new seeds that dropped may sprout the following spring and start the cycle over again. To ensure getting new annual Rudbeckia plants each year, you'll need to plant fresh seeds every spring.

Other varieties like the common Black-eyed Susans found along roadsides are actually biennials in nature. The seeds sprout the first spring, but the plants won't flower until their second year.

However, if you start the seeds indoors about 6 weeks before the last expected frost date, you can get these biennials to bloom in that very first season after sprouting. Some may even hang on and bloom again for a couple more years after that - acting like short-lived perennials. But you can't rely on this, so just appreciate it if it happens!

Then there are the true, reliable perennial Rudbeckia varieties. While they may not bloom as early in the season as annuals, choices like Sweet Black-eyed Susans and the Goldstrum cultivar will come back robustly year after year to provide late season flowers in your garden.