FNPS Plant Database
Rudbeckia mollis
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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- Short 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, Loam
Soil pH:
Suitable to Grow In:
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.
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.
Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
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.
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.
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.
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.
