Lawn Guardian

Black-Eyed Susan Care Guide

Rudbeckia fulgida

perennialZones 3–9nativedeer resistant

Cheerful native wildflower with golden-yellow daisy flowers centered with dark brown cones. Blooms from midsummer to frost. Naturalizes readily for a meadow effect.

At a glance

Season-by-season care

Spring

Cut back old stems Early spring

Remove last year's dried stems if they were left for winter interest and bird food.

Divide if crowded Early spring

Divide clumps every 3-4 years in spring to maintain vigor.

Summer

Deadhead for extended bloom Throughout summer

Remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming through fall.

Fall

Leave seed heads for birds Late fall

Stop deadheading in fall to allow seed heads to develop. Goldfinches feed on the seeds through winter.

Ecological value

Important late-season nectar source for native bees and butterflies. Seed heads feed goldfinches and other seed-eating birds through winter. Supports native beneficial insects.

Never miss a black-eyed susan care window again

Lawn Guardian turns this guidance into a schedule timed to your USDA zone and this week's actual weather — and adapts every time you log what you've done.

Get your free plan

Related plants

Sources: Purdue University Turfgrass Science: Use Growing Degree Days to Better Time Your Applications · University of Missouri Extension: Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar · University of Minnesota Extension: Pre-emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Control in Lawns