Greetings, fellow sun-worshippers! From our perspective as Rudbeckias, often called Black-eyed Susans, we are robust, cheerful perennials (and some biennials) that simply want to thrive and fill your garden with our golden glory. To help you help us, here is a detailed guide from the root up.
Our most fundamental need is sunlight. We crave it. To produce our best blooms and maintain strong, upright stems, we require a minimum of six to eight hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. While we can tolerate very light shade, too much will make us leggy and reduce our flowering. As for our feet—our roots—we are not picky, but we insist on good drainage. We despise having our roots sitting in soggy soil, which leads to rot. Average garden soil is perfectly fine; we are quite adaptable. The ideal time to settle us into your garden is in the spring after the last frost, or in the early autumn, which gives our roots time to establish before winter's chill.
Once we are established, we are remarkably drought-tolerant. However, during our first growing season and any prolonged periods of heat and drought, we appreciate a deep, thorough watering. Please aim the water at our base, soaking the soil deeply rather than giving us a light sprinkle. This encourages our roots to grow deep and strong. A layer of mulch around our base will help conserve that precious moisture. In terms of food, we are not heavy feeders. In fact, rich, heavily fertilized soil can sometimes make us flop over. A light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring is more than enough to support a season of prolific blooming.
To encourage us to produce waves of flowers from midsummer right into fall, a simple practice called deadheading is key. As our individual flower heads fade and the petals droop, simply snip the stem back to a set of leaves. This tells us to stop putting energy into seed production and instead to create new buds. If you leave the last flowers of the season on the plant, we will happily develop seeds. This not only allows us to self-sow (creating new volunteers for next year) but also provides a vital food source for birds during the colder months. In late fall or early spring, you can cut our entire spent stalks back to the ground.
We are vigorous growers and will naturally form expanding clumps. Every three to four years, you might notice our center beginning to die out. This is our signal that we need to be divided. The best time for this is in the early spring as new growth emerges or in the early autumn. Carefully dig up the entire clump, and use a sharp spade or knife to divide it into smaller sections, each with healthy roots and shoots. Replant these divisions, water them well, and you will have rejuvenated, stronger plants. As for pests, we are generally trouble-free. The most common issue is powdery mildew, a fungal disease that looks like white powder on our leaves. Good air circulation around our plants is the best prevention.
We are more than just pretty faces. Our flat, central cones are perfectly designed landing pads for pollinators. Bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects rely on our nectar and pollen. By planting us, you are supporting the local ecosystem. We also make excellent cut flowers, lasting a long time in a vase to bring our sunshine indoors. We are versatile companions in the garden, looking spectacular when planted in masses, mixed into a perennial border, or paired with ornamental grasses and other late-season bloomers like Sedum and Russian Sage.
