Do Black Eyed Susans Grow Back Every Year?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Do Black Eyed Susans grow back every year? Blooming mainly in summer, black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) commonly grow 24 inches tall with signature yellow to orange petals and a dark center point. Although the blossoms appear fragile, these perennials have a strong root system that

often allows the plant to rejuvenate itself every year

.

How do black-eyed Susans come back every year?


Perennials, such as the popular Sweet Coneflower, will make an appearance year after year

. Annuals can be planted each season, but they may pop up on their own after leaving seeds behind in the fall. This is common, as most varieties of Black Eyed Susan are self-seeding.

Can black-eyed Susan survive winter?


Plants in containers will bloom over winter if kept in a sunny place and night temperatures are above 60 degrees

. In frost-free climates this vine is perennial and will grow very dense. The vine will quickly fill narrow vertical spaces with color. Thunbergia alata grows best in rich, moist soil in full sun.

Why didn’t My black-eyed Susans come back?

Do black-eyed Susans reseed themselves?


If you don’t cut down the seed heads, annual black-eyed Susans will reseed themselves

and pop up in delightfully unexpected spots next year. Depending on the variety, perennial black-eyed Susans will thrive in USDA growing zones 3 to 9 (with most cultivars happiest in zones 4 to 7).

How do you winterize black-eyed Susans?

After the first hard frost,

cover the plants with a foot of loose mulch, such as straw

. In warmer climates where snow is light or rare, you can choose to leave the plants until spring to shelter and feed wildlife, or cut the plants back. Any diseased plants should be removed and placed in the trash.

What do you do with black-eyed Susans in the fall?

In autumn,

cut Black Eyed Susan back to about 4” tall (10 cm.)

or, if you wouldn’t mind a few more Black Eyed Susan plants, let the last blooms go to seed for the birds. The seed heads can also be cut and dried to propagate new plants.

What is the difference between black-eyed Susan and Rudbeckia?

The “brown-eyed” and “black-eyed” labels are sometimes used interchangeably to refer to any of the commonly grown Rudbeckia species and their cultivars—even those that have been bred to eliminate the dark flower centers. However,

black-eyed Susans are larger and have more petals than brown-eyed Susans

.

When should I cut back my black-eyed Susans?

Black-Eyed Susan Pruning


Once the flowering season is past

, cut the remaining stalks to a height of about 2 inches above the soil. After the first fall frost, the entire plant can be cut to the soil line. During the winter season, birds feed on the seed heads. Leave a few behind to sustain the wildlife.

Should I deadhead black-eyed Susans?

It isn’t really necessary to cut back Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan); but

if you will deadhead them (i.e., remove the fading flowers before they set seed), it will prolong their flowering period

.

How long do black-eyed Susan last?

The flowers of the black-eyed Susan, which occur singly atop the tall stems, make attractive additions to cut flower arrangements, with a “vase life” of

six to 10 days

.

Where is the best place to plant black-eyed Susans?

Black-eyed Susan thrives in

full sunshine

. It tolerates partial sun, but it will not bloom as reliably. Black-eyed Susan prefers rich, well-draining soil, although plants will tolerate low fertility.

What time of year do black-eyed Susans bloom?

The black-eyed Susan grows to be about 3 feet tall (about 1 m) with bright yellow ray flowers that are 2 to 3 inches wide and have small, dark brown spherical centers. Don’t worry if your black-eyed Susan seeds do not produce flowers the first year! They typically bloom in the

summer and fall of the second year

.

Do black-eyed Susans spread by seed or root?


Spreading by Seed

Along with root propagation, black-eyed Susans seed easily in the garden; it only takes up to 10 days for germination during warm spring and summer weather. The plant’s bright flowers direct pollinators to the dark center, where generous nectar supplies abound.

Are black-eyed Susans seeds or bulbs?

While they may not begin flowering quite as early each season, if you choose one of the perennial varieties we carry, either Sweet Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) (

available as seeds

) or the cultivar Goldstrum (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldstrum’) (available as plants), they will return year after year to light up …

Is black-eyed Susan invasive?

Black-Eyed Susans: Plant Requirements

They tolerate drought but need to be watered. While

not considered invasive

, black-eyed Susans self-seed, so they do spread if not kept in check. They are available as perennials, annuals or biennials. These plants are generally not attractive to deer.

What do you do with black-eyed Susans after they bloom?


Cut back the the entire black-eyed Susan plant after the first fall frost kills off any remaining flowers

. In fall, you can cut this perennial back to 2 inches above the soil line if the plant is diseased or you consider the dead stems unattractive.

Does Rudbeckia survive winter?

Cultivars of Rudbeckia hirta

may survive some winters in relatively mild parts of the UK, but in most gardens they will struggle to get through the winter

.

What is the best time to transplant black-eyed Susans?

Can I split black-eyed Susans?


Black Eyed Susan should be divided and split every three to five years

to keep plants healthy and blooming strong. If allowed to grow too thick, the roots begin to crowd one another out. Once this occurs, blooming cycles can be shorter and less intense.

Can I transplant black-eyed Susans now?

In Conclusion. Black-eyed Susans are a hardy plant that

can survive being transplanted at nearly any time during the year

. However, to lessen transplant shock, you should be moving your black-eyed Susans during their dormant periods, which are late fall or spring.

Does Rudbeckia regrow?

Do Rudbeckia grow back every year?

Yes, they may be perennials but certain varieties are often treated as annuals

.

Which Black-Eyed Susans are perennials?

Here’s a bit of botany for you: Black-eyed Susans are in the plant genus Rudbeckia, which contains both perennial and annual types. If you’re looking for perennials, you want

Rudbeckia fulgida

. The annual varieties you see growing along the side of the road are Rudbeckia hirta.

Are coneflowers and black-eyed susans the same thing?

Purple coneflowers (Echincea purpurea) and black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida) are sometimes both called coneflowers, but

the two are distinct species

. Both are perennials — which means they live year after year — and both are wildflowers native to forests, prairies and meadows of eastern North America.

What is the longest blooming perennial?

  • Catmint (Nepeta racemosa) …
  • Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) …
  • Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’) …
  • Geranium ‘Rozanne’/ Cranesbill (Geranium ‘Gerwat’ Rozanne) …
  • Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi) …
  • Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

What does the Black-Eyed Susan symbolize?

The Black-eyed Susan is the

symbol of encouragement

. Considering its history of adaptability when it traveled from west to east, this is obviously a plant that in its determination to survive will bloom where it’s planted. And if there is one thing gardeners need, especially around mid-August, it’s encouragement.

Do rabbits eat black-eyed Susans?

The Short Answer.

Yes

. According to sources like the Missouri Botanical Garden and University of Nebraska Extension, black-eyed susans (also known as Rudbeckia species) are plants that can be moderately to heavily damaged by rabbit feeding.

What plants go well with black-eyed Susans?

  • Zinnia.
  • Cosmos.
  • Asters.
  • Marigolds.
  • Petunia.

How do black-eyed Susans propagate?

Can you propagate black-eyed Susan from cuttings?

Learning how to propagate a black-eyed Susan vine

may include propagation from cuttings as well

. Take 4 to 6 inch (10-15 cm.) cuttings below a node from a healthy plant and root them in small containers in moist soil. You’ll know when to plant black-eyed Susan vines outdoors when cuttings show root growth.

Are Black-Eyed Susan invasive?

Black-Eyed Susans: Plant Requirements

They tolerate drought but need to be watered. While

not considered invasive

, black-eyed Susans self-seed, so they do spread if not kept in check. They are available as perennials, annuals or biennials.

Are Black-Eyed Susans poisonous to dogs?

Is rudbeckia an annual or perennial?

Rudbeckia are

perennial

flowering plants that are hardy in Zones 4–9. Like many plants, they have several common names, among which are: Black-eyed Susan, Gloriosa Daisy, and Yellow Ox Eye.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.