Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Zones: 4 to 9
Light: Sun
Bloom Time: Late spring to early fall
Height: 1′ to 3′ (depending on the variety)
Spread: 1′ to 2′
Black-eyed Susan is a native perennial that produces daisy-like yellow or orange flowers from late spring until early fall.
Deadheading old flowers will encourage re-blooming.
Those brightly-colored flowers are a magnet for butterflies but not for deer. So that’s always a bonus!
It can survive in clay soil and is quite drought- and heat-tolerant once it is established.
Some varieties are considered annuals so check the description of the plants when you buy them.
Also, Rudbeckia can be a prolific self-seeder. If you don’t want to grow (or pull) lots of new seedlings, it’s a good idea to remove the old flowers before they have a chance to go to seed.
This post was originally published on June 14, 2020 but was updated with new content on June 18, 2022.