Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Flower

Black-Eyed Susan

Black-Eyed Susan is a common name for the flowering plant *Rudbeckia hirta*, a North American member of the aster family.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Black-Eyed Susan is a bright yellow wildflower with a dark centre, native to North America. It's a popular garden plant and a favourite of pollinators.

What it is

Black-Eyed Susan (*Rudbeckia hirta*) is a daisy-like plant in the aster family. It has rough, hairy stems and broad yellow petals surrounding a raised, dark brown to black central disk. The plant can behave as an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial, and blooms from late spring into autumn.

Where it grows

Native to much of North America, Black-Eyed Susan thrives in sunny habitats such as prairies, open woodlands, roadsides, and fields. It is also widely cultivated in gardens and can naturalize outside its native range. The plant grows up to about one metre tall.

Why it matters

The flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and other insects. Birds feed on the seeds after blooming. Easy to grow and long-blooming, Black-Eyed Susan is a valuable ornamental and wildflower planting choice for supporting local pollinators.

In short

  • Bright yellow petals with a dark brown centre.
  • Native to North America, common in prairies and gardens.
  • A valuable food source for bees, butterflies, and birds.
  • Easy to grow and blooms from late spring to autumn.
Canadian angle

Black-Eyed Susan is widely known in Canadian gardens and wildflower plantings, and related *Rudbeckia* species are grown across Canada for their long bloom period and pollinator value.

Quick questions

What is Black-Eyed Susan?
Black-Eyed Susan is a common name for *Rudbeckia hirta*, a North American flowering plant in the aster family.
Why is it called Black-Eyed Susan?
The name refers to the flower’s dark central disk, which looks like an eye.
Is Black-Eyed Susan important to pollinators?
Yes. Its flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other insects, and its seeds can feed birds.

Sources

  1. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/black-eyed-Susan-plant
    Supports: Scientific name, family, growth form, native habitat, flower description, ornamental use.
  2. Chesapeake Bay Program — https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/entry/black-eyed-susan
    Supports: Flower description, bloom period, plant height, seed head, naming origin, state flower of Maryland.
  3. Missouri Department of Conservation — https://www.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/black-eyed-susan
    Supports: Family, growth habit, flowerhead description, bloom period.
  4. USDA Plant Guide — https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_ruhi2.pdf
    Supports: Native status and life cycle as annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial.
  5. Backyard Ecology — https://www.backyardecology.net/black-eyed-susan/
    Supports: Native range, family, and pollinator value.
  6. University of Illinois Chicago Heritage Garden — https://heritagegarden.uic.edu/black-eyed-susan-rudbeckia-hirta
    Supports: Native to North America.