Brown-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia triloba
Also listed as Centrocarpha triloba
Also known as Three-lobed Coneflower, Thin-leaved Coneflower, Brown-eyed Coneflower
Climate Match for your location
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Brown-eyed Susan is a cheerful perennial wildflower with golden-yellow petals and dark brown or purple-brown central disks that resemble a dark eye. It blooms prolifically from mid-summer through fall and attracts pollinators while requiring minimal maintenance.
Why grow it
Brown-eyed Susan offers reliable mid-summer to fall color in mixed borders and meadow plantings where many other Rudbeckia species peak earlier in the season. It tolerates a wider range of soil moisture and fertility than R. fulgida, making it useful in less-amended garden sites. The prolific self-seeding can provide continuity across seasons without replanting, though this requires different management than hybrid cultivars bred for lower seed production.
Watch out for
Plants may become leggy or sparse in partial shade, requiring staking or cutback in early summer to encourage bushier growth. In areas with high summer humidity, monitor for powdery mildew on lower foliage, which typically does not warrant treatment but signals that air circulation could be improved. Seedlings can appear in unwanted locations; deadheading spent flowers before seed drop will prevent unexpected volunteer plants if self-sowing is not desired.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Brown-eyed Susan is a cheerful perennial wildflower with golden-yellow petals and dark brown or purple-brown central disks that resemble a dark eye. It blooms prolifically from mid-summer through fall and attracts pollinators while requiring minimal maintenance.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Brown-eyed Susan grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Brown-eyed Susan offers reliable mid-summer to fall color in mixed borders and meadow plantings where many other Rudbeckia species peak earlier in the season. It tolerates a wider range of soil moisture and fertility than R. fulgida, making it useful in less-amended garden sites. The prolific self-seeding can provide continuity across seasons without replanting, though this requires different management than hybrid cultivars bred for lower seed production.
Watch out for
Plants may become leggy or sparse in partial shade, requiring staking or cutback in early summer to encourage bushier growth. In areas with high summer humidity, monitor for powdery mildew on lower foliage, which typically does not warrant treatment but signals that air circulation could be improved. Seedlings can appear in unwanted locations; deadheading spent flowers before seed drop will prevent unexpected volunteer plants if self-sowing is not desired.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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