A Minnesota native and prairie classic. Golden-yellow daisy-like blooms with dark brown centers light up the garden from midsummer through fall, and the birds love the seed heads.
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Sunlight
Full sun, 6+ hrs
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Water
Low, drought-tolerant
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Type
Perennial (zones 3–9)
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Soil
Average, well-drained
Growing Basics
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a perennial in Minnesota, reliably hardy in zones 3–9. It will come back every year.
Bloom time: Midsummer through fall (typically July–October in Minnesota). Seed-grown plants usually bloom in their first year.
Sunlight: Full sun (6+ hours daily). Tolerates light shade but blooms less.
Soil: Average to lean, well-drained soil. Very adaptable — grows happily in clay, sandy, or loamy conditions once established.
Transplanting: Plant in spring after the last frost. Plant at the same depth as in the pot and water well to get established.
Watering: Water regularly the first season while roots establish. After that, black-eyed Susans are quite drought-tolerant and need little supplemental watering.
Fertilization: Minimal. A light feeding in spring is optional. Too much fertility causes floppy stems.
Perennial Notes
These plants were grown from seed this year. Expect good growth and blooms their first summer.
They spread by fibrous clumping roots and can be divided every 2–3 years in spring. The divisions transplant easily.
Leave seed heads standing through winter — goldfinches and chickadees eat the seeds all season. Cut back to the ground in early spring.
Self-seeds modestly. You may get some volunteers in the surrounding area.
Excellent pollinator plant — bees and butterflies love it.
