Asteraceae
Blackeyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Rugged, sun-loving perennial that earns its keep in nearly any yard
Acabashi via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_4)
About this plant
Rudbeckia hirta, commonly called by its scientific name, is a perennial in the Asteraceae family, the same sprawling clan that includes daisies and coneflowers. What sets it apart for beginners is its almost unreasonable adaptability: USDA hardiness zones 1a through 13b cover virtually the entire continental United States, meaning this plant can survive climates from the frigid upper Midwest to the subtropical edges of Florida and Hawaii. If you have outdoor garden space, Rudbeckia hirta will very likely grow in it.
The plant belongs to the genus Rudbeckia, a North American staple with a long track record in home gardens. Its medium water needs mean it sits comfortably in the middle ground: not a drought-tolerant xeriscape specialist, but not a thirsty bog plant either. Regular rainfall in most U.S. Regions will carry it through the season with only occasional supplemental watering. Rated beginner difficulty, it asks for roughly ten minutes of attention per week, making it one of the most time-efficient perennials a first-time gardener can choose.
The gallery
Historical plates & modern photos
Bloom
Danny S. via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_3)
Gallery
G. Edward Johnson via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_3)
Gallery
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_4)
How to grow it
Five steps, start to bloom.
Written for beginners. If you've never grown anything before, this is all you need to keep this plant alive and happy.
Pick a spot
Find a spot with enough light for its needs. Plant it outdoors, ideally sheltered from the harshest afternoon wind.
Plant it
Any good all-purpose potting mix or well-drained garden soil will do. Give each plant enough room for its mature spread. Crowding causes more problems than undersizing the bed. Water it in gently once it's settled.
Water it
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, roughly once a week in summer. Soak the soil, then let it breathe before the next round.
Feed & tend
This one is very forgiving. A balanced all-purpose fertiliser at the start of the growing season is plenty, and you can skip a month without harm. Plan on 10 minutes a week of hands-on care: watering, a quick trim, checking for pests.
Enjoy it
Watch for new growth in spring and summer. If the leaves look tired, trim the oldest ones back to encourage fresh foliage.
Year at a glance
What to do, month by month.
Approximate for a temperate North American zone. Shift earlier the further south you garden, later the further north.
Jan
January: Rest
Dormant
Feb
February: Rest
Dormant
Mar
March: Wake up
New growth
Apr
April: Tend
Routine care
May
May: Tend
Routine care
Jun
June: Tend
Routine care
Jul
July: Tend
Routine care
Aug
August: Tend
Routine care
Sep
September: Tend
Routine care
Oct
October: Tend
Routine care
Nov
November: Wind down
Prep for dormancy
Dec
December: Rest
Dormant
Pet & people safety
Non-toxic to common pets.
Verified against a primary poison-control source. Still, no plant is a snack. Grazing in quantity can upset the stomach of any animal, and the hotline below is there if something goes wrong.
Dogs
Non-toxic
Non-toxic per ASPCA.
Source: ASPCA
Record covers Blackeyed Susan toxicity for Dogs.
Cats
Non-toxic
Non-toxic per ASPCA.
Source: ASPCA
Record covers Blackeyed Susan toxicity for Cats.
Bloomwise is not a substitute for veterinary or medical advice. Every line above comes from a hand-verified reference.
Recommended supplies
#adHand-picked tools for this plant.
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Every product is curated by hand and chosen because it actually helps with this plant, not because it pays the highest rate.
Amazon
Espoma Organic Garden-tone 3-4-4 (8 lb)
A slow-release granule for mixed perennial beds. Low nitrogen keeps coneflowers and rudbeckias producing blooms rather than foliage on established plants.
$14.49 approx.
Amazon
XLUX Soil Moisture Meter
Black-eyed Susans handle drought but rot in waterlogged soil. A quick probe before watering builds the one habit that prevents the most common beginner mistake.
$11.99 approx.
Park Seed
Park Seed 'Cherokee Sunset' Rudbeckia Seeds
An AAS winner with warm sunset colors (bronze, mahogany, gold) that complements a coneflower bed beautifully.
$5.95 approx.
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Frequently asked
Common questions.
- What USDA zones does Blackeyed Susan grow in?
- Blackeyed Susan is hardy in USDA zones 1a to 13b. If your winter lows fall outside that range, grow it in a container you can bring indoors, or treat it as an annual.
- How often should I water Blackeyed Susan?
- Water about once a week in summer, adjusting for rainfall. Soak the soil, then let it breathe before watering again.
- How much sunlight does Blackeyed Susan need?
- Blackeyed Susan prefers four to six hours of sun, ideally morning light.
- Is Blackeyed Susan safe for pets?
- Yes. Blackeyed Susan is listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats by verified poison-control sources. No plant is a snack, though, and grazing in quantity can still upset any animal's stomach.
- Is Blackeyed Susan good for beginners?
- Yes, this is a forgiving plant that tolerates inconsistent watering and the occasional missed feeding. A good choice for a first garden.
Sources
Plant facts on this page come from a blend of public-domain and open-licensed datasets: Biodiversity Heritage Library (historical botanical illustrations, public domain), USDA PLANTS (taxonomy, public domain), GBIF (occurrence and taxonomy, CC-BY 4.0), OpenFarm (crop guides, CC-BY-SA 3.0), and Open-Meteo (climate and hardiness lookup, CC-BY 4.0). Toxicity records come from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and the Pet Poison Helpline; every row is hand-verified against a primary reference.