Image of Rudbeckia hirta
Source: Donna Bos
image of Flowering plant
Rudbeckia hirta
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckie hérissée

Obsolete Names

hairy coneflower
marguerite jaune
rudbeckia hérissé
rudbeckie hirsute
Seeds available at table Mixed Sun, Dry

We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.

Bloom colour: Yellow Bloom period: Jun - Sep
Max Height: 2.0 feet
Max Width: 1.0 feet
Light condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture dry Tolerates dry soil condition
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Biennial plants that will take two years to bloom, and then will die
Gardener Experience:
beginner friendly Suitable for beginner gardeners
does not spread Does not spread uncontrollably
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape uses:
rock garden Suitable for rock gardens
row garden Suitable for Right of Way gardens
rain garden Suitable for rain gardens
shoreline_rehab Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
container suitable Suitable for container garden
school garden Suitable for school gardens
boulevard garden tolerant Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
foot traffic tolerant Tolerates foot traffic
Ecological Benefits:
Bird friendly Supports birds
Pollinator garden Supports pollinators
butterfly host Butterfly host
bee host Bee host
keystones species Keystone species
Tolerates:
drought Tolerant Tolerates drought conditions
Salt Tolerant Tolerates salt conditions
Deer Resistant Deer resistant
rabbit resistant Rabbit resistant
foot traffic Tolerant Tolerates foot traffic
limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
sand Tolerant Tolerates sandy conditions
juglone Tolerant Tolerates juglone conditions
transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
septic tank safe This plant is septic tank safe

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Rudbeckia hirta
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Taiga Plains
  • Atlantic Maritime
  • Taiga Shield
  • Boreal Plains
  • Montane Cordillera
  • Prairies
  • Boreal Shield
  • Pacific Maritime
  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Rudbeckia hirta

No butterfly data available for this plant.

Specialized Bees Supported by Rudbeckia hirta

  • Andrena aliciae
  • Andrena rudbeckiae
  • Complexe Colletes americanus
  • Complexe Colletes compactus
  • Megachile inimica
  • Megachile pugnata
  • Melissodes agilis
  • Melissodes illatus
  • Melissodes subillatus
  • Melissodes trinodis
  • Protandrena andrenoides
Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

Complementary Plants

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Oenothera fructicosa (Sundrops Cultivars)
  • Helianthus (Non-Native Sunflower)
  • NA (Black Eyed Susan's Cultivars)
  • Rudbeckia Triloba (Brown Eyed Susan's)
  • Echinacea (Coneflowers)
  • Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy)
  • Helianthus).1 (Non-Native Sunflower)
  • NA (Non-Native False Sunflower)

Sowing Information

Download Sowing Label (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
  • Sow by March
  • Stratification duration: 30 days
  • Self-seeding

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: July
  • Harvesting indicator: Seeds easily fall off when you gently pull them off
  • Harvesting mean: Cut top edge then shake seeds off in bag or container with rock or equivalent
  • Seed viability test: No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/32 teaspoon
  • Seed storage: Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • At least one cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
  • Remove non seed material
  • Harvesting video: Watch here

Toxicity Notes

Toxic to mammals if ingested.