Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Sunny, cheerful, and self-seeding; goldfinches eat the seed heads.
Hardiness: zones 3 to 9
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 2.5 ft tall, 1.5 ft wide
From: E. and central North America
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: pollinators, wildlife, butterfly and moth caterpillars.
Native to: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest & Great Lakes, Great Plains & Texas, Eastern Canada, Rockies & Great Basin. Hardy in zones 3 to 9.
The story
Native to Ohio meadows and prairie openings across the eastern US. Linnaeus named the genus after his teacher, Olof Rudbeck.
Planting
Full sun to light shade. Soil: any (pH 5.5–7.5). Spacing: 18 in. Pollination: insect-pollinated; small native bees.
Growing
Water: low. Winter: Leave seed heads for finches. Spring: Cut old stems back as new growth starts. Summer: Golden bloom for weeks. Fall: Self-sows. Move seedlings where you want them.
Harvest and use
Harvest: Seed heads feed finches in fall. First crop: blooms year 1.
What to watch for
Leaf spot in wet years.
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home