Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia species are commonly known
as Black-eyed Susans or coneowers.
The most widely available native is Blackeyed
Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). It is found
throughout Florida in sandhills, atwoods
and disturbed areas, including the variety
Rudbeckia hirta var. oridana, endemic to
Central and South Florida.
Softhair coneower (Rudbeckia mollis)
and Cutleaf coneower (Rudbeckia
laciniata) can be used successfully
throughout the Panhandle and in North
and Central Florida.
Cut owers can last up to 10 days in
bouquets. Black-eyed Susan roots also
have been used in various medicines.
Description
Black-eyed Susan, especially the variety
found in Central and South Florida,
appears to be perennial. However,
varieties may be annual, biennial or
perennial. Plants are generally 1 to 2 feet
tall with most of the foliage on the bottom
half. Leaves are very rough to the touch
(which can help identify young plants).
The 3- to 4-inch deep-yellow aster-like
owers have dark brown disk owers in a
central dome. Rudbeckia blooms spring
through fall, and has scattered blooms
through the winter in South Florida.
Softhair coneower is annual or biennial,
with soft, almost velvety hairs on plants
that reach 3 feet or more when owering.
The 2-inch owerheads are similar to
Black-eyed Susan. They have showy
ray orets, but the disk is attened and
brown or purplish. Softhair coneower is
a robust plant that can have 30 owers
open at a time from late spring through
summer. It naturally occurs in sandhills
and open hammocks, so plant it in sandy,
well-drained soils, and mix it with other
species where its height is a welcome
addition to the landscape.
Cutleaf coneower is a large perennial
reaching 4 to 6 feet tall and up to 4 feet
across when in full bloom in late summer
and fall. Found in moist, open hammocks
and oodplains of North Florida, it prefers
moist settings and may need a little more
shade or protection from the west sun
when used in Central Florida. The lower
leaves are toothed and deeply dissected.
The large owers stand 2 to 4 feet above
the last leaves and have long yellow ray
orets spreading from the mounding
disk with greenish yellow orets. Cutleaf
coneower’s very beautiful rosette of
large, rich green leaves can be seen
through much of the year, making a ne
mass planting.
Planting
Use Black-eyed Susans in mixed
wildower beds. This and most other
Rudbeckia species easily self-seed
if open or lightly mulched areas are
available.
Space Black-eyed Susans and Softhair
coneower 14 to 18 inches apart. Space
Cutleaf coneower about 3 feet apart.
Seeds
Seeds can be collected after the ray and
disk owers nish blooming and have
dried slightly. Pick a head and tear it
apart to nd the mature cone-shaped
seeds, which should
have solid white
centers. Seeds
can be purchased
commercially.
Plants
Plants are available in gallon containers
from Florida Association of Native Nursery
members. When buying at mainstream
retail outlets, be sure to ask about the
origin of the plant (see Caution).
Care
Monitor plants during extra-long dry
periods, especially in spring, and water
deeply only as needed. Black-eyed Susan
owers can be cut after they bloom to
encourage more owering stems and
lengthen the bloom period.
Site conditions
This plant does well in many soil types as
long as the site is well-drained and not
extremely dry. Give Rudbeckia full sun or
partial shade for the best blooming.
Hardiness zones
Black-eyed Susans are best suited for
zones 8a–11a.
These plants are excellent nectar
sources and are also larval hosts to
some moths.
1–4 ft
Nectar, host
There are many named
cultivars of Rudbeckia
species, and some
CAUTION
are quite popular
and widely available.
None of the cultivars
currently available were derived from
Florida ecotypes, and they are not
considered native wildowers. They
may not perform as well or live as
long as those from your local region.
Photo by Mary Keim
Little metalmark on Black-eyed Susan
Photo by John Moran
Photo by Kari Ruder
Black-eyed Susan