Rudbeckia hirta - Black-Eyed Susan

Please note: All plants pre-ordered online will be available for in-person pickup at our office (3257 West 41st Street Cleveland, OH 44109) the last week in May/first weekend in June. We will reach out to everyone who purchased plants to arrange a pick-up time. Plant orders cannot be shipped, and plants will not be included in shipping costs of orders that include other items from our shop.

Black-Eyed Susans are versatile, heat and drought-tolerant plants that are easy-to-grow. Its adaptable nature makes it a great choice for poor soils and tough conditions. A native plant that attracts a variety of pollinators, Black-Eyed Susan pairs beautifully with other prairie favorites like Purple Coneflower and Butterfly Weed.

Members of the aster family, Asteraceae, the “black eye” is named for the dark, brown-purple centers of its daisy-like flower heads. The plants can grow to over 3 feet tall, with leaves of 6 inches, stalks over 8 inches long, and flowers with a diameter of 2 to 3 inches.

Butterflies, bees, and a variety of insects are attracted to the flowers for the nectar. As they drink the nectar, they move pollen from one plant to another, causing it to grow fruits and seeds that can move about easily with the wind.

Other common names are , Brown-Eyed Susan, Gloriosa Daisy and Common Black-eyed Susan.

Our plants are grown in Rust Belt Rider’s Tilth soil using organic practices, inoculated with beneficial endomycorrhizal fungi and planted in eco-friendly, biodegradable 4” or 6” pots.

1st Year: A traditional plant start in a 4” pot.

2nd Year: 2-year-old plants in a half-gallon pot. These plants are larger, have been overwintered, and have more established roots.

Your purchase helps support our nonprofit's educational programming. With each native you plant, you help provide a healthy ecosystem that creates important food, shelter, and medicine and improves habitats for Ohio pollinators. Thank you for your support – happy planting!