Brown-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba

Brown-eyed Susan is an herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is native to much of eastern North America. The meaning of the Latin species epithet is "three-lobed,' referring to the three-lobed basal leaves.

Brown-eyed Susan grows easily in average, moist, well-drained soils. It is a rugged plant, somewhat weedy, that tolerates heat, drought, deer predation, and a wide range of soils. It will also grow in light shade, although too much shade may cause it to need support. Brown-Eyed Susan can be grown from seed started indoors in early spring or sown directly in the garden after the last frost. If planting seedlings or plant sets, set them out after the danger of frost has passed. You can deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional blooms, which also prevents any unwanted self-seeding. Because the plant self-seeds, it can re-emerge in the spring garden regardless of the survival of the original plant through the winter.

The plant's typical height is 3 to 5 feet with 2- to 4-inch leaves and 2- to 3-inch yellow flowers with dark purple-brown center disks. The leaves often have three lobes and a rosette of leaves that originate at the base of the stem persists through the winter, creating an attractive winter ground cover. Flowers bloom in late summer through fall and make an excellent cut flower. This plant differs from black-eyed Susan (R. hirta), which has smaller, but more numerous, flowers.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No known insect or disease problems. Susceptible to powdery mildew. Watch for slugs and snails on young plants. May need support if grown in a shaded site.

Cut Flower Profile

VIDEO: Part of the Native Plant Picks series from the North Carolina Sea Grant led Coastal Landscapes Initiative.

More information on Rudbeckia.