Leaf
Andrea Moro · CC BY-SA 4.0
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta L.
Also known as: Hairy coneflower
Family: Asteraceae
40 cm to 1 m tall
Planted in sunny borders and beds
Flowering: July – October
Full sun
Hardy to about -20°C, but often grown as a biennial because it is short-lived
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
It is named for its stems and leaves covered in coarse hairs, clearly visible and perceptible to the touch.
🍃 Leaves
Ovate to lanceolate, rough, hairy, in a basal rosette
🌸 Flowers
Large bright yellow flower heads with a domed brown-black centre
🍎 Fruits
Small dry achene
🪵 Bark
Erect herbaceous stem, coarsely hairy
🗺️ Distribution
Native to North America; widely grown in France as an ornamental plant
🐝 Value for pollinators
Very nectar-rich flowers, very attractive to bees, butterflies and hoverflies; seeds enjoyed by birds
✂️ Horticultural uses
Very free-flowering bedding plant from late summer to autumn, often grown as a biennial
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity
🌿 Other Asteraceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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