Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, KenraizCC BY-SA 4.0via Wikimedia Commonsresized / cropped
Black-eyed Susan Plant Care
Rudbeckia hirta L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Rudbeckia hirta, commonly called black-eyed Susan, is a North American flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Eastern and Central North America and naturalized in the Western part of the continent as well as in China. It has now been found in all 10 Canadian Provinces and all 48 of the states in the contiguous United States.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Black-eyed Susan?
Water Black-eyed Susan every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Black-eyed Susan?
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Rudbeckia genus. Black-eyed Susan is also known as Yellow Daisy, Poor Robinson, Gloriosa Daisy.
Black-eyed Susan displays a clump-forming perennial growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Black-eyed Susan produces bright yellow or orange daisy-like flowers with dark centers.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Black-eyed Susan?
Rudbeckia hirta requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Black-eyed Susan Need?
Black-eyed Susan thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Black-eyed Susan Prefer?
Rudbeckia hirta grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Black-eyed Susan prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Black-eyed Susan?
Well-draining, fertile soil with a mix of compost and perlite. Good drainage is essential for Black-eyed Susan to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Black-eyed Susan?
Feed Black-eyed Susan every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Black-eyed Susan?
Divide and replant every 3-4 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Black-eyed Susan?
Black-eyed Susan can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to orange coneflower plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Black-eyed Susan Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Black-eyed Susan, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Black-eyed Susan?
Black-eyed Susan is susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Black-eyed Susan Need?
Black-eyed Susan grows outdoors in USDA Zone 3a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 3a.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 3a – 9b
Keep exploring plants
Black-eyed Susan is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Rudbeckia genus — compare its care with other Rudbeckia species on PlantoScan.
Rudbeckia is part of the Asteraceae plant family — browse all Asteraceae genera and species.
Black-eyed Susan thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Rudbeckia Species
Other Rudbeckia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Rudbeckia hirta L., family Asteraceae (first published in Sp. Pl. : 907 (1753)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Black-eyed Susan, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 3a – 9b, estimated from the plant's typical growing conditions.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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