SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rudbeckia triloba 'Blackjack Gold'

COMMON NAME: Black-Eyed Susan

GARDEN SIZE: 2–4 feet tall x 1–2 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Fast

USDA ZONE: 3 to 7

EXPOSURE: Full Sun, Part Shade

WATER & SOIL: Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and prefers average to dry moisture. Requires regular watering after planting, but is drought tolerant once established.

HABIT (FORM): Strongly upright, branching herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; green, rough-textured leaves, some may be 3-lobed

FLOWERS: Masses of golden-yellow rays with black center cones; blooms mid-summer through early fall; excellent for cutting

PLANT ORIGIN: Nativar of a species found in central and eastern United States, including Tennessee.

WILDLIFE SUPPORT: Excellent nectar source for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Provides seasonal cover for small wildlife and may support seed-eating birds. Host plant for local butterflies and moths.

FERTILIZING: Give a root stimulant or 4-3-3 fertilizer during initial planting, then feed lightly in late winter or early spring with compost or an organic fertilizer.

PRUNING: Cut back to just above soil level in early spring to encourage dense regrowth. Leaving stems, leaves, and spent blooms over the winter benefits native pollinators and wildlife.

TOXICITY FLAGS: None reported

USES: Border plant, container, cut flower, mass planting, cottage gardens, rain gardens, patio containers