Rudbeckia hirta

Black-eyed Susan, Common Black-eyed Susan, Brown-eyed Susan, Blackeyed Susan

This cheerful, widespread wildflower is considered an annual to a short-lived perennial across its range. Bright-yellow, 2-3 in. wide, daisy-like flowers with dark centers are its claim to fame. They occur singly atop 1-2 ft. stems. The stems and scattered oval leaves are covered with bristly hairs.

This native prairie biennial forms a rosette of leaves in the first year, followed by flowers in the second year. It is covered with hairs that give it a slightly rough texture. Yellow ray flowers point downward on the Green-headed Coneflower (R. laciniata), which has an irregularly divided disk and a yellowish-greenish disc.

Larval Host Plant:  Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis), Common Eupithecia (Eupithesia miserulata), Wavy Lined Moth (Synchlora aerata), Southern Emerald Moth (Synchlora frondaria)

Nectar Source Plant: Specialist Mining Bee (Andrena rudbeckiae), Long-Horned Bees (Melissodes spp.), Leafcutter Bees (Megachile spp.), Cuckoo Bees (Coelioxys spp.), Bumble Bees (Bombus spp.), Mining Bees (Andrena spp.), Green Sweat Bees (Agapostemon spp.), Small Carpenter Bees (Ceratina spp.)

BONAP MAP

Height: 2.5’
Spread: 2’
Bloom: June-October
Light: Sun, part shade, Dappled Shade
Water: Low, to medium
Zone:  3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Origin: the United States, widely naturalized