How to Grow and Care for Black-eyed susan

Black-eyed susan, also known as Gloriosa Daisy, Brown Betty, Golden Jerusalem, Yellow Ox-eye Daisy, English Bull's Eye, Poorland Daisy, Yellow Daisy, Coneflower

Black-eyed susan is widely known for its low maintenance requirements and resilience, making it a favored choice for gardeners. These plants thrive in full sun conditions and are tolerant of a variety of soil types, although they prefer well-drained soil. A special care point for black-eyed susan is to deadhead spent flowers to promote further blooming and prevent excessive self-seeding. Additionally, being drought-tolerant, black-eyed susan does not require frequent watering, making it particularly easy to care for.

Watering schedule: Twice per week

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Black-eyed susan

Toughness	High
Care Level	Medium
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial, Annual
Watering Schedule	Twice per week
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil pH	6-7
Planting Time	Spring
Hardiness Zones	4-10

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Varieties of Black-eyed susan

Black-eyed susan 'Denver Daisy'

Black-eyed susan 'Denver Daisy' is a favorite among gardeners for its vibrant yellow petals and dark center. It blooms from mid-summer to fall and attracts butterflies and bees. This cultivar is a showstopper when planted in mass, and also makes a great cut flower.

Black-eyed susan 'Summerina Orange'

The black-eyed susan 'Summerina Orange' was created to give a much longer blooming season with a flower that has the bright beauty of the original Black-eyed susan plant. It is also more hardy. This cultivar is noted for being quick to grow and vigorous, with extra large, bright orange blooms.

Black-eyed susan 'Indian Summer'

A cultivar of Black-eyed susan, black-eyed susan 'Indian Summer' is a standout for its long blooming season and outstanding vase life, making it a superb choice as a cut flower. The flowers blossom in great numbers from early summer to the year's first frosts. This cultivar has won multiple awards from American and British organizations.

Black-eyed susan 'Giggling Smileyz'

This cultivar came from a cross between the Echinacea and the Rudbeckia. It was created to take the best of both plants and combine them into one: taking the beauty of the Rudbeckia and the hardiness and long blooming season of the Echinacea. The black-eyed susan 'Giggling Smileyz' is a fast, vigorous grower while also remaining compact and tidy as it grows.

Black-eyed susan 'Marmalade'

Black-eyed susan 'Marmalade' is a showy Black-eyed Susan popular with gardeners for its marmalade orange-red flowers, which are a marked contrast to the yellow flowers of the parent plant. This plant has many uses in the ornamental garden, being ideal for borders, flower beds, and good-sized containers.

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More General Info About Black-eyed susan

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Black-eyed susan exhibits a stout, upright growth habit with branched stems reaching 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) in height. The foliage is characterized by coarse texture, with leaves covered in stiff hairs. Each plant bears several flower heads, each with a prominent, dark brown central cone surrounded by bright yellow, petal-like ray florets. The flowers are typically 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) in diameter, presenting a daisy-like appearance. This species flourishes in full sun and blooms throughout summer into fall.