A little seed. A new beginning.
Seeds In A Cup®A LITTLE SEED. A NEW BEGINNING.

GROW SOMETHING WONDERFUL

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Your guide to planting, growing, and getting to know this plant.

THE PLANT NOTEBOOK

Black-Eyed Susan care, from seed onward.

Botanical name
Rudbeckia hirta
Common names
Gloriosa Daisy, Brown-Eyed Susan
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Rudbeckia
Species
R. hirta
01

Start growing

Very easy; thrives in full sun and almost any soil. Self-seeds readily.

02

Growing with your kit

The Seeds In A Cup® methodology highlights 'Pioneer Species' behavior—watching these hardy plants thrive in 'disturbed' cup soil.

03

Propagation

By seed or division.

04

Seasonal growth & harvest

Blooms from early summer to the first frost. Short-lived perennial or biennial.

05

Growing conditions

Prairies, meadows, and roadsides.

06

Weather & tolerances

High heat and drought tolerance; handles pollution well.

07

Pests & plant health

Powdery mildew and septoria leaf spot.

08

Plant safety

Safe; some individuals may experience skin irritation from the hairy stems.

09

Botanical features

A hardy wildflower with golden-yellow petals surrounding a dark brown/black central cone.

10

Varieties

‘Indian Summer’, ‘Goldstrum’.

11

Garden & everyday uses

State flower of Maryland. iconic prairie restoration plant. long-lasting cut flower

12

Native range & distribution

Native to Central North America; naturalized across the continent.

13

Conservation

Abundant and secure.

14

Name origins

Named after the Rudbeck family; ‘hirta’ means hairy, referring to the stems and leaves.

15

History

Associated with an 18th-century poem by John Gay about a sailor's love for his 'Black-Eyed Susan'.

Grow black-eyed susan in a cup.