Black eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta)

black-eyed susan - ‘Golden Jubilee’ black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a beautiful native wildflower that has been domesticated for use in the Northeast. It can be direct seeded in a mixture with other erosion control plants for roadside plantings or similar disturbed areas associated with construction. It can be seeded in solid stands.

‘Golden Jubilee’ was collected along Interstate 91, south of Westminster, Vermont. Following extensive comparison with other native and commercial strains, it was released cooperatively by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Maine Department of Transportation.

‘Golden Jubilee’ black-eyed susan usually grows about 3 feet tall. The leaves are more or less oblong, and the plants are rough and hairy on all parts. The flower heads have yellow or orange rays and dark brown spherical centers. Blooming occurs from June to September.

This plant is usually a bi-annual. It establishes a seedling the first year, produces flowers and seed the second, and then dies. This life cycle may be influenced by climatic location.

It may be a short-lived perennial in the southern part of its region of adaptation and an annual in the northern region. ‘Golden Jubilee’ is a re-seeding plant. Once it becomes established and produces a seed crop, new seedlings develop the following year. Under normal circumstances the re-seeding could continue indefinitely, unless there are drastic environmental or site changes. As competing vegetation increase, there will be a corresponding reduction in the number of black-eyed susan plants.

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TEXT CREDIT: ‘Golden Jubilee’ black-eyed susan