Black-eyed Susan has a unique flower shape and is easy to care for, making it suitable for flowerbeds and courtyard planting

Black-eyed Susan, also known as black-eyed coneflower, is an annual, biennial, or perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Rudbeckia of the Asteraceae family, native to North America. Its most obvious feature is a dark brown to blackish-purple raised central disk surrounded by golden-yellow ray florets, which looks like a bright eye from a distance, and this is where the name black-eyed Susan comes from.

Black-eyed Susan prefers a sunny environment, has strong heat tolerance, and also has some cold and drought tolerance. It is not demanding about soil, but grows best in loose, fertile, well-drained soil. Its flowering period is mainly from summer to autumn, and when it blooms in masses it forms a golden expanse, with a relatively long ornamental period.

When cultivating black-eyed Susan, choose a position with ample light. During the growing period, keep the soil slightly moist but never waterlogged, and pay attention to timely drainage during the rainy season. Removing spent flowers promptly after blooming can reduce nutrient consumption and encourage new flowers to open one after another. It is mostly propagated by sowing, and after the seeds mature and fall to the ground, it readily self-seeds and renews itself, often producing small seedlings on its own the following year.

In landscape applications, black-eyed Susan is often used in flowerbeds and flower borders, and can also be planted in masses along roadsides and forest edges to create a natural, wild landscape. Its flower stems are upright, so it can also be used as a cut flower. Because of its strong adaptability and low-maintenance management, it is also a common choice for courtyard landscaping and beginner gardeners.

In daily care, avoid a long-term shady and damp environment. When grown in pots, pay even more attention to controlling watering to prevent root rot. As long as sufficient light and good ventilation are ensured, black-eyed Susan generally grows vigorously and blooms continuously.