How to Grow Black-eyed Susans
Rudbeckia hirta
Golden, daisy-like prairie flowers that bloom for months and feed pollinators.
By the Plants by Zone Editorial Team · Reviewed June 1, 2026
About black-eyed susans
Black-eyed Susans are tough, cheerful natives that bloom from midsummer to frost with little care. Drought-tolerant and adaptable, they’re magnets for bees and butterflies, and their seed heads feed birds into winter. Most are short-lived perennials that self-sow to keep coming back.
When to plant and harvest black-eyed susans
Timing is relative to your frost dates. Find your USDA zone for exact dates, or browse the month-by-month calendars.
Start seeds indoors
6–8 weeks before last frost
Transplant outdoors
After last frost
Direct sow
After last frost, or in fall for natural stratification
Harvest
Midsummer to frost
How to grow black-eyed susans step by step
- 1
Sow seed on the soil surface (it needs light) in spring, or scatter in fall for natural cold treatment.
- 2
Thin or space to 12–18 in apart in full sun.
- 3
Water to establish, then only during droughts — they thrive on neglect.
- 4
Deadhead for more blooms, or leave some seed heads for birds and self-sowing.
- 5
Divide perennial clumps every few years to keep them vigorous.
- 6
Cut back in late winter, leaving some stems standing for overwintering insects.
Common problems growing black-eyed susans
⚠ Powdery mildew in late summer
Give full sun and airflow; it’s mostly cosmetic, and resistant varieties exist.
⚠ Floppy, leggy plants
Too much shade or rich soil — grow lean in full sun for sturdy stems.
⚠ Plants fade after a couple of years
Many types are short-lived — let some flowers self-sow, or divide clumps to renew them.
✓ Good companions for black-eyed susans
✗ Keep away from
🧺 Harvesting black-eyed susans
Cut stems for the vase when the petals have just unfurled and the centers are still tight, taking long stems to encourage more. Leave the last flush of seed heads standing — goldfinches and other birds feed on them through fall and winter.
Black-eyed Susans: frequently asked questions
Are black-eyed Susans perennial?＋
Most are short-lived perennials or biennials that return for a few years and self-sow freely, so a patch tends to persist on its own.
Do black-eyed Susans spread?＋
They self-seed readily and some types spread by roots. That makes them great for naturalizing, but deadhead if you want to keep them contained.
Grow black-eyed susans in your zone
See exactly when to plant and what else to grow alongside black-eyed susans, tailored to your USDA hardiness zone.
