Black-eyed Susan

across when in full bloom in late summer Plants and fall. Found in moist, open hammocks Plants are available and floodplains of North Florida, it prefers 1–4 ft moist settings and may need a little more in gallon containers shade or protection from the west sun from native nurseries. Nectar, host when used in Central Florida. The lower When buying at leaves are toothed and deeply dissected. mainstream retail The large flowers stand 2 to 4 feet above outlets, be sure to ask about the origin of the last leaves and have long yellow ray the plant (see Caution). florets spreading from the mounding disk with greenish yellow florets. Cutleaf Care coneflower’s very beautiful rosette of Monitor plants during extra-long dry large, rich green leaves can be seen periods, especially in spring, and water

Photo by Mary Keim through much of the year, making a fine deeply only as needed. Black-eyed Susan mass planting. flowers can be cut after they bloom to Little metalmark on Black-eyed Susan encourage more flowering stems and Rudbeckia species are commonly known Planting lengthen the bloom period. as Black-eyed Susans or coneflowers. Use Black-eyed Susans in mixed The most widely available native is Black- wildflower beds. This and most other Site conditions eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). It is found Rudbeckia species easily self-seed This plant does well in many soil types as throughout Florida in sandhills, flatwoods if open or lightly mulched areas are long as the site is well-drained and not and disturbed areas, including the variety available. extremely dry. Give Rudbeckia full sun or Rudbeckia hirta var. floridana, endemic to Space Black-eyed Susans and Softhair partial shade for the best blooming. Central and South Florida. coneflower 14 to 18 inches apart. Space Softhair coneflower R.( mollis) and Cutleaf Cutleaf coneflower about 3 feet apart. Hardiness zones coneflower R.( laciniata) can be used Black-eyed Susan is best suited for zones successfully throughout the Panhandle 8A–11. Softhair and Cutleaf coneflower and in North and Central Florida. Butterflies and bees are suited for zones 8A–9A. Description These plants are excellent nectar sources and are also larval hosts to Black-eyed Susan, especially the variety found in Central and South Florida, some moths. appears to be perennial. However, varieties may be annual, biennial or Seeds perennial. Plants are generally 1 to 2 feet tall with most of the foliage on the bottom Seeds can be collected after the ray and half. Leaves are very rough to the touch disk flowers finish blooming and have (which can help identify young plants). dried slightly. Pick a head and tear it apart The 3- to 4-inch deep-yellow aster-like to find the mature cone-shaped seeds, flowers have dark brown disk flowers in a which should have solid white centers. central dome. Rudbeckia blooms spring Seeds can be purchased commercially. through fall, and has scattered blooms through the winter in South Florida. Softhair coneflower is annual or biennial, with soft, almost velvety hairs on plants Photo by John Moran that reach 3 feet or more when flowering. Softhair coneflower The 2½-inch flowerheads are similar to Black-eyed Susan. They have showy ray florets, but the disk is flattened and There are many named brown or purplish. Softhair coneflower is cultivars of Rudbeckia a robust plant that can have 30 flowers species, and some CAUTION open at a time from late spring through are quite popular summer. It naturally occurs in sandhills and widely available. and open hammocks, so plant it in sandy, None of the cultivars well-drained soils, and mix it with other currently available were derived from species where its height is a welcome Florida ecotypes, and they are not addition to the landscape. considered native wildflowers. They may not perform as well or live as

Cutleaf coneflower is a large perennial Photo by Kari Ruder long as those from your local region. reaching 4 to 6 feet tall and up to 4 feet Black-eyed Susan