Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susan

Multi Buy

Size Guide
3.5
3.5" Perennial
3 or more $6.00 ea
Regularly: $6.99 ea

Black-Eyed Susan

Scott's Nursery Ltd.

$6.99
Title

Bring the ultimate, non-stop late-summer celebration to your landscape with this legendary native masterpiece. Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii commands immediate attention with its brilliantly glowing, golden-yellow daisy blossoms radiating around a highly structured, velvety, deep-chocolate central cone. Rising proudly above a dense, uniform mound of rich, dark green, leathery foliage, these high-definition flowers completely blanket the plant, creating an ocean of pure sunshine that stays beautifully flawless when other garden varieties begin to fade.
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Plant Details

Mature Size:

24" - 36" H x 18" - 24" W

Zone:

3-9

Watering:

Low to Medium

Type:

Herbaceous Perennial

Growth Rate:

Fast

Light:

Full Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Sullivant's Black-Eyed Susan, Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan, and Orange Coneflower

Scientific Name:

Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii

Type:

Clumping Native Perennial / Late-Season Accent / Container Thriller

Growth Details:

Mature Size: 24" - 36" H x 18" - 24" W

Growth Habit: Compact, upright, and clumping.

Form: Rigid, dense, beautifully uniform columnar mounds.

Growth Rate: Fast.

Flowering Time: Mid-summer all the way through to late autumn (typically July to October).

Flower Colour: Deep, brilliant golden-yellow petals with a prominent blackish-brown central eye.

Environmental Needs:

Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade (Blooms most intensely in full sun).

Soil Preferences: Thrives beautifully in fertile, moist, organically rich loams.

Soil Tolerance: Exceptional adaptability; easily handles heavy clay, sandy loam, and nutrient-poor soils, provided they do not hold stagnant winter water.

Watering: Provide steady, average weekly moisture; displays top-tier drought tolerance once its deep root system is fully locked in.

Container Role: Functions as a spectacular, structurally sound Thriller or dense centrepiece in late-season mixed patio arrangements.

Special Features:

Award-Winning Genetics: Celebrated globally for producing a much higher, more uniform flower canopy than traditional wild black-eyed susans.

Drought & Heat Resistant: Possesses a rugged, deeply anchoring root system that handles intense mid-summer heatwaves, humidity, and dry spells with zero wilting.

Deer & Rabbit Resistance: The rough, sand-papery texture of the foliage and central flower cones makes the entire plant naturally unpalatable to foraging deer and rabbits.

Attracts: An absolute premium destination for local butterflies, honeybees, native bumblebees, and hungry autumn songbirds.
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

Bloom Information: Mass spectacle of highly showy, 3" to 4" wide daisy-like heads with raised, pincushion central cones that open continuously for up to three months.

Interest: Wakes up early in spring with deep green, coarsely textured leaf rosettes that form a clean, dense clump all early summer. It transitions into a massive, eye-catching blanket of gold all autumn, before its dried seed cones provide beautiful rustic winter texture and architectural visual interest over bare snow.

Garden Value:

Ornamental Interest: Offers an exceptionally long, heavy bloom season featuring high-contrast golden petals against deep chocolate cones and dark, coarse foliage.

Landscaping Uses: Essential choice for traditional cottage gardens, low-maintenance mass plantings, rain gardens, naturalized meadows, and high-visibility property borders.

Wildlife & Human Value:

Wildlife Value: Supplies a vital, high-volume nectar station for butterflies all summer, transforming into a crucial native seed station for local songbirds during winter.

Human Value: Yields exceptional, rigid-stemmed cut flowers with an extraordinarily long vase life, and provides a stunning, low-care curb appeal option for water-wise landscaping designs.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

Best Time To Plant: Plant out young potted starts early in the spring or in early autumn to establish roots in cool weather.

Spacing: Space individual crowns 18" to 24" apart to allow them to quickly knit together into a solid, weed-suppressing mass.

Location Tips: Select high-exposure spots with reliable drainage; handles clay soils beautifully on slopes or open beds, but avoid low, waterlogged bogs.

Companion Plants: Pairs magnificently with late-blooming blue Salvia, purple Echinacea, or fine-textured Ornamental Grasses.

Care:

Light Requirements: Demands full sun exposure; requires at least 6 hours of unshaded, direct daily sunlight to maximize bloom density and maintain rigid stem posture.

Moisture Requirements: Prefers moist, well-drained soil; highly adaptable to a wide range of moisture levels, but performs best with regular weekly watering.

Maintenance: Highly self-cleaning; deadhead fading flower heads down to the nearest leaf node to aggressively extend the blooming window deep into autumn.

Fertilization: Feeds lightly; apply a minimal layer of organic compost or a balanced, slow-release organic fertilizer in early spring as new shoots emerge.

Tolerances:

Tolerates severe drought, heavy clay soil, rocky or poor soil, high summer heat, extreme humidity, road salt spray, deer, and rabbits.

Tips For Success:

Winter Bird Feeder: Do not cut down the final wave of autumn flowers; leave the rigid stems standing through winter so local goldfinches can feast on the seed cones.

Spring Cleansing: Shear the old, dead stalks all the way down to the ground in late winter or early spring before fresh green shoots emerge from the soil.

Easy Division: Divide the established clumps every 3 to 4 years in early spring to maintain pristine plant health and easily expand your garden borders.
Fruit Profile