This week: Two Native Black-Eyed Susans Worth Growing
Hello!
Long-time readers may notice a recurring theme: common names are confusing. And here’s one of the all-time greats: Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) and Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida). They have the same common name, same genus, and are both native to the Eastern and Central U.S., but are different in habit and looks.
Rudbeckia hirta
In addition to being called Black-Eyed Susan, this Rudbeckia is also known as Brown-Eyed Susan or Gloriosa Daisy. The plant grows two to three feet tall and has a large flower head—three or so inches in diameter. Sometimes, the petals darken from gold to maroon as they reach the center. This, combined with how easy they are to grow from seed, makes them popular with cut flower farmers.
The easiest and most affordable way to get these plants is to grow them from seed. Packets, often labeled Gloriosa Daisy, are found practically anywhere that sells flower seeds. You can sow them in the fall, winter, or spring. Some seed purveyors say they need as many as 30 days of cold stratification, while others say they don’t need any cold stratification to germinate (I've started mine indoors without any cold stratification). Unlike most other “from seed” native plants, they tend to bloom in the first year.
Technically, R. hirta is a biennial (a plant that lives for 2 years), but it reseeds freely and will multiply. In other words, you will have this plant in your garden for many years, but it won’t always live in the same place—great for a prairie-style or cut-flower bed, less ideal for people who prefer an organized aesthetic.
Fun fact: the flowers can be used as a natural dye. Potawatomi weavers would boil the flowerheads with rushes to decorate their mats and baskets with yellow.
Rudbeckia fulgida
Though it is sometimes called Orange Coneflower, this is the Black-Eyed Susan most people have in their gardens. It is a long-lived perennial that spreads slowly by rhizomes—a well-behaved clumper, not a prolific self-seeder like R. hirta. A common cultivar, ‘Goldstrum’ has been thriving in gardens since the 1930s.
The flowers are around two inches in diameter, and the plant is compact, staying two to three feet tall. It is an excellent choice for borders and will consistently bloom (and rebloom) from July into October.
It is less common to start R. fulgida from seed, possibly because cultivars are readily available in pots from nurseries and big box stores. But, seeds can be sown in the fall or winter, as it needs a period of cold stratification. Packets of ‘Goldstrum’ are often sold alongside Gloriosa Daisies in many retail stores, and straight species seed can be purchased online. Plants can also be propagated through division, even straight from the grower’s pot.
Both are powerhouse plants for bees, butterflies, and birds. They are also the larval host for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly. Deer rarely bother to eat the plant, and leaving the seedheads up through the winter will attract overwintering songbirds. With Black-Eyed Susans, it’s hard to go wrong, no matter which plant you choose!
Elsewhere:
Are your houseplants looking sad? Low humidity could be the culprit. This article from Penn State Extension explores common tactics for increasing home humidity so your plants perk up this winter.
Have a good week,
Julie