DESCRIPTION: Prairie Sun Black-Eyed Susan has masses of beautiful gold daisy flowers with chartreuse eyes and yellow tips at the ends of the stems from mid summer to late fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its serrated pointy leaves remain green in colour throughout the season. 

BOTANICAL NAME: Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'
OTHER NAMES: Gloriosa Daisy, Coneflower
AVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 90 cm
AVERAGE MATURE SPREAD: 45 cm
SUN EXPOSURE: Full sun to partial shade
FLOWER COLOUR: Golden yellow fading to orange with green eyes
FLOWERING TIME: Summer
FOLIAGE COLOUR: Deep green
COLD HARDINESS: Zone 5 ( Should survive up to -28.9° Celsius ) - Requires extremely sheltered location
WATER NEEDS: Average
OTHER FEATURES: Attracts Butterflies, Border, Cut Flower, Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant

Landscape Attributes

Prairie Sun Black-Eyed Susan is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Prairie Sun Black-Eyed Susan is recommended for the following landscape applications:

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Prairie Sun Black-Eyed Susan will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 14 inches apart. Although it's not a true annual, this fast-growing plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Prairie Sun Black-Eyed Susan is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.