FNPS Plant Database
Rudbeckia hirta
Nomenclature
Common Name:
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Family:
Asteraceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
Size:
Life Span:
Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
Fruit Color:
Phenology:
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Considerations:
Availability:
Propagation:
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry
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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Very long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Unknown
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or Other Substrate:
Sand
Soil pH:
Suitable to Grow In:
8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.
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Vouchered In:
Ecology
Wildlife:
Attracts bumble bees, butterflies
Larval host for the silvery checkerspot, found only in extreme north Florida.
Seeds eaten by small birds such as finches.
Native Habitats:
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Citations:
Brakie, M. (2019). Plant Guide for Black-eyed Susan ( Rudbeckia hirta ). ( ). Accessed 2026. USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, East Texas Plant Materials Center. Nacogdoches, TX.
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA). (Undated). Silvery Checkerspot, Chlosyne nycteis [in] Butterflies and Moths of North America. ( https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Chlosyne-nycteis ). Accessed 2026.
Gilman, Edward F., Teresa Howe, Ryan W. Klein, and Gail Hansen. (2024). Rudbeckia hirta , Blackeyed Susan, Gloriosa Daisy. ( https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/fp512 ). Accessed 2026. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell. (1999). Native Florida Plants. Gulf Publishing Company. Houston, TX.
Horth, L., Campbell, L., & Bray, R. (2014). Wild bees preferentially visit Rudbeckia flower heads with exaggerated ultraviolet absorbing floral guides. Biology open, 3(3), 221–230. ( https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.20146445 ). Accessed 2026. National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.
Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
Norcini, J. G., & Aldrich, J. H. (2008). Performance of Native Florida Plants under North Florida Conditions. ( https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-ep341-2007 ). Accessed 2026. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.
Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
Traas, Pamela. (2001). Gardening for Florida's Butterflies. Great Outdoors Publishing Co., St. Petersburg, FL.
University of Minnesota. (Undated). Black Eyed Susan [in] Plants for Pollinators. ( https://plantsforpollinators.weebly.com/black-eyed-susan.html ). Accessed 2026. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.
