Choosing Blackeyed Susans

Annual Black-eyed Susan Relatives:
Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta) is a hybrid of wild black-eyed Susan. Its distinctive flowers are from 4 to 7 inches wide in cinnamon gold colors, often accented with a ring of red or brown around a brown ‘eye’ or center. Loved for their great diversity of color patterns, gloriosas also may have single, double or semi-double petals. Usually listed as annual or biennial plants, gloriosa daisy varieties are short-lived.

‘Indian Summer’ is a 1995 All-America Selection featuring mixed single and double blossoms up to 9 inches across. It grows 3 to 3 1/2 feet tall.

‘Sonora’ has 5 to 6 inch flowers with mahogany centers from early summer to frost; it grows to 15 inches tall.

‘Irish Eyes’ has a green cone, or center, and medium yellow petals.
‘Double Gold’ has a double set of petals.
‘Nutmeg’ grows to 2 feet.
‘Becky’ grows to 15 inches.
‘Toto’ grows to 8 inches.
Ragged or Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) has long lobed leaves and six foot stems topped by branched clusters of yellow flowers. They have distinctive droopy petals and a conical green center. They bloom in June, earlier than most others.
‘Soleil d’Or’ has single yellow petals and green center. Grows to only 3 feet.
‘Gold Drop’ has double flowers on 3 foot stems.
‘Herbstonne’ grows to 8 feet. Blooms earlier than most, in mid-June. Handles clay, Midwest winters. Yellow petals with lime-green cones or centers. Grows dense and deep roots to maintain clumps.
‘Hortensia’ (‘Golden Glow’) is the tallest at 8 feet. It has multi-petaled puffy flowers. It spreads easily by underground roots. Stems are weak so it needs staking. Best used in large meadow situations.
‘Goldquelle’ is double flowered, grows to 3 feet; blooms in mid-summer.
‘Golden Globe’ grows to 4 feet on sturdier stems; blooms August to October. Cone, or center, is obscured by shaggy petals so flower resembles a dahlia.
Rudbeckia maxima grows to six feet, has blue-green foliage and 5 inch wide golden flowers with drooping petals and elongated black centers. It prefers moist soil and thrives from Missouri to Louisiana and Mississippi.

Perennial black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida):
‘Goldsturm’ has orange-yellow 3 inch flowers. At about 2 feet tall, it is slightly smaller and more compact than most black-eyed Susan varieties.

New Black Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia “Cherokee Sunset” (Rudbeckia hirta)
AAS Flower Award Winner In 2002

This plant should be called a "Green-eyed Susan. It is an exciting new annual flower that contains a blend of sunset colors; yellow, orange, bronze, mahogany and shades of these colors. The 3 to 4-1/2 inch flowers are double or semi-double and long lasting as cut flowers. Best when grown in the full sun, 'Cherokee Sunset' plants are about 24 to 30 inches tall, spreading about a foot. Many plants are self-supporting and others may need staking. 'Cherokee Sunset' offers yardeners a blend of autumn colors and late season garden performance. Flowering profusely the first year, 'Cherokee Sunset' may over-winter in northern gardens. This plant is sold in most independent garden centers in the spring.