Black-eyed Susan Planting Guide

June

black-eyed susan this June — what to know

This page is about black-eyed susan in general. For your zone's exact planting and harvest dates, pick your county below.

Sun full sun

Water low

Days to harvest 60–80

Spacing 18″

How to water black-eyed susan
Mulch heavily around black-eyed susan to hold soil moisture without watering more often.
Where to put black-eyed susan
South-facing beds are ideal for black-eyed susan. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant black-eyed susan. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Your black-eyed susan planting calendar by county →

Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan) is one of the most recognizable and adaptable native wildflowers in North America. Its bright golden-yellow daisy petals radiate from a dark brown central cone, providing months of color from midsummer into fall. Technically a short-lived perennial that self-seeds freely — colonies persist indefinitely in the garden — it thrives in poor soils, tolerates drought, and is irresistible to bees, butterflies, and goldfinches.

Rudbeckia hirta · Flower · Asteraceae family · 60–80 days to maturity

Perennial Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting

Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Black-eyed Susan is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.

Get Your Personalized Black-eyed Susan Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Black-eyed Susan?

Zone Compatibility for Black-eyed Susan Zones 3a – 9b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Bloom
Zone 3a	Mar 6	May 15	May 29	Aug 21 – Oct 16
Zone 3b	Mar 1	May 10	May 24	Aug 16 – Oct 18
Zone 4a	Feb 25	May 6	May 20	Aug 12 – Oct 21
Zone 4b	Feb 20	May 1	May 15	Aug 7 – Oct 23
Zone 5a	Feb 21	Apr 25	May 9	Jul 25 – Oct 24
Zone 5b	Feb 14	Apr 18	May 2	Jul 18 – Oct 24
Zone 6a	Feb 6	Apr 10	Apr 17	Jul 3 – Oct 16
Zone 6b	Jan 30	Apr 3	Apr 10	Jun 26 – Oct 16
Zone 7a	Jan 21	Mar 25	Apr 1	Jun 10 – Oct 14
Zone 7b	Jan 14	Mar 11	Mar 25	Jun 3 – Oct 14
Zone 8a	Jan 11	Mar 1	Mar 8	May 17 – Oct 4
Zone 8b	Dec 31	Feb 11	Feb 25	May 6 – Sep 30
Zone 9a	Dec 16	Jan 27	Jan 27	Apr 7 – Aug 25
Zone 9b	Nov 30	Jan 4	Jan 11	Mar 22 – Aug 9

How to Plant Black-eyed Susan

18"

Between Plants

24"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

Drought tolerant — water only when soil is dry 2" deep.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 9b

📅 Days to Maturity

60–80 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Asteraceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Asteraceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Black-eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susan matures in just 60–80 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Black-eyed Susan

✅ Good Companions

Echinacea Coreopsis Yarrow Salvia Ornamental Grasses

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Black-eyed Susan

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost or direct-sow after last frost (needs light to germinate — press seeds onto soil surface, do not cover). Thrives in average to poor soil; rich soil causes floppy stems. Deadhead for extended bloom but leave some seed heads for winter wildlife interest and self-seeding. Although technically short-lived (3–5 years), prolific self-seeding maintains the colony. Year 2+ plants bloom most heavily. Divide every 3 years to maintain vigor.

Saving Black-eyed Susan Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Black-eyed Susan by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Black-eyed Susan?

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) takes 60 to 80 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Black-eyed Susan grow in?

Black-eyed Susan can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 9b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Black-eyed Susan need?

Growing Black-eyed Susan requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Low — drought tolerant, and soil pH of 6 to 7.