Black-eyed Susan seeds - robust summer flower with bright flower heads

Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta is an annual to biennial summer flower from North America that immediately catches the eye with bright flowers and its characteristic dark central cone. Its long flowering period and natural, uncomplicated growth make it a beautiful choice for cottage gardens, summer beds and naturalistic plantings.

Black-eyed Susan seeds offer far more than classic yellow with a dark centre: depending on the variety, the colour spectrum ranges from lemon yellow and gold to orange and bronze through to warm reddish brown. Greenish flower centres, bicoloured and more strongly double forms can also be found in Rudbeckia hirta.

Why is Rudbeckia hirta called “Black-eyed Susan”?

The Latin name already reveals a typical feature of the plant. Hirta broadly means “hairy” or “rough” and refers to the clearly hairy leaves and stems. The German name Rauer Sonnenhut also refers to this feature.

In English, the species is known as “Black-eyed Susan”, while in German the name Schwarzäugige Rudbeckie is also sometimes used. The dark, domed flower centre creates a striking contrast to the usually yellow, orange or reddish-brown ray florets.

From golden yellow to mahogany

The great diversity of varieties is one of the special charms of Rudbeckia hirta. Alongside classic golden-yellow flowers, there are bicoloured forms with reddish-brown rings, varieties in bronze and mahogany tones as well as unusual variants with a greenish centre. Plant height also varies considerably: compact varieties remain low, while vigorous cutting varieties can reach around one metre in height.

This means that Rudbeckia hirta seeds can be used in very different garden situations - from bed edges to larger summer flower plantings and tall groups among other late-flowering perennials and summer flowers.

A long summer of flowers for people and insects

Depending on sowing time and variety, the flowers open from summer well into autumn. Their striking flower heads are visited by bees, bumblebees, hoverflies, butterflies and other insects, bringing strong colour to the bed once again, especially in the second half of the gardening year.

Many varieties are also excellent as cut flowers. In this way, Black-eyed Susan combines a long-lasting flower display in the garden with bright summer bouquets for the vase.