Black-eyed Susans

Planting black-eyed susans

Sow in spring after frost, or in fall for blooms the following year. Seed germinates better after a few weeks of cold, moist conditions.

Planting details

• Spacing: 12 to 18 inches
• Seed depth: about 1/8 inch, pressed into the surface
• Short-lived perennial that persists by self-sowing

Growing requirements

Black-eyed Susans take full sun and average to lean soil. Once established they handle heat and dry spells with little or no supplemental water.

Harvesting and care

Deadhead for a longer bloom, or leave seed heads standing for goldfinches. Let some seed fall where you want the patch to renew itself, since individual plants are often short-lived.

Common mistakes

• Rich, over-fertilized soil, which makes the stems floppy
• Removing every seed head in fall, which stops the patch from self-sowing
• Watering established plants heavily, which they rarely need

Companion plants

Coneflowers, butterfly weed, and native grasses share the same sunny, dry conditions. They also work at the sunny edge of a vegetable garden as a pollinator draw.