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Home » Gardening » Growing and Propagating Black Eyed Susan, Rudebeckia

Growing and Propagating Black Eyed Susan, Rudebeckia

Updated : February 15, 2020

41 Comments

Black Eyed Susan

Black Eyed Susan is a beautiful, great selling perennial that is super easy to grow and super easy to propagate.

Several years ago I planted about 20 in a bed and for the past several years we dig up about 5 clumps, tear those clumps into pretty small pieces, pot them up and in a matter of weeks people are paying $6.97 each for them.

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Black-eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan

And I still have plenty more to dig and divide!

Dividing them is as easy as pie. We simply set the clump on The Wrap Around Potting Station, shake off as much soil as we can, and start tearing the clump apart. Each piece that we pot up is probably no bigger than your little finger. This spring I’ll have to shoot a video and add it to this page.

I really need to do this with a lot more perennials, it’s just too darn easy.

Black Eyed Susan is a sun loving perennial that is both heat and drought tolerant. It’s also a great pollinator attracting bees and butterflies. They are hardy in zones 3 through 7. They grow about 2′ tall and each clump will get about 2′ wide.

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There are several varieties of Rudebeckia and most are similar, some have smaller blooms but I’ve seen one called Cherry Brandy Black Eyed Susan that is on my “Must Have” list.

Questions, comments, mean things to say? Just post them below and I will respond.

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Comments

  1. Judy James says

    May 18, 2020 at 11:06 pm

    My late husband subscribed to your service. In his 80’s, he hoped to supplement our income by planting and selling little plants as you recommend, but he passed on before he could.

    Intending to completely re-landscape when he died, he had cut down trees, torn out a border of lilac bushes and a beautiful rose bed. That plus some construction repairs at the time on our old farmhouse left a lot of rubble, and dirt,mixed with sections of grass.

    I need to sell to make the area presentable, by putting in a lawn myself. and have some questions.

    I have been following your wonderful instructions on preparing a lawn for planting,

    1.The 320-square-foot area has mixed grass and compacted bare soil areas with quite a few little stones compacted into the soil. A friend tried to rototill to loosen the soil but had to give up because of the stones.

    Another friend has raked out visible stones, without going beneath the surface. The area is hard compacted soil and half grass area which sprung up on its own.

    I cannot afford loam that the repair contractor recommended. To prep soil, would it help to rent a tractor with tines or disks to break up the soil, then level it by using my Mahindra tractor with bucket loader/plow pushing it down, flat?

    2. How can I figure out what kind of grass seed to buy, and quantity.?

    3. How can I best keep area watered while seed grows and how often doe it need to be watered?

    4. In process of disruption by contractors, a patch of lilies of the valley has scattered out many feed across the disturbed dirt area. Can I
    Dig up and replant them elsewhere. Or in pot to save to move with with when I sell the house?
    I have read carefully your planting a lawn instructions, I cannot afford loam that the repair contractor recommended. To prep soil, would it help to rent a tractor with tines or disks to break up the soil, then level it by using my Mahindra tractor with bucket loader/plow pushing it down, flat?

    2. How can I figure out what kind of grass seed to buy? I live in Mane

    3. How can I best keep area watered while seed grows and how often does it need to be watered?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      May 19, 2020 at 7:19 am

      1.The 320-square-foot area has mixed grass and compacted bare soil areas with quite a few little stones compacted into the soil. A friend tried to rototill to loosen the soil but had to give up because of the stones.

      Another friend has raked out visible stones, without going beneath the surface. The area is hard compacted soil and half grass area which sprung up on its own.

      I cannot afford loam that the repair contractor recommended. To prep soil, would it help to rent a tractor with tines or disks to break up the soil, then level it by using my Mahindra tractor with bucket loader/plow pushing it down, flat?

      Mike; 320 sq ft is a small area, a tractor is way to much, a good rototiller will do the trick.

      2. How can I figure out what kind of grass seed to buy, and quantity.?
      Mike; a blend of grass seed that is popular in your area, a little blue grass, some fescue and some perennial rye in the mix. 5lbs per square foot is usually enough seed.

      3. How can I best keep area watered while seed grows and how often doe it need to be watered?
      Mike; Water daily until the grass is up and water into the summer or you loose it and have to start over again.

      4. In process of disruption by contractors, a patch of lilies of the valley has scattered out many feed across the disturbed dirt area. Can I
      Dig up and replant them elsewhere. Or in pot to save to move with with when I sell the house?
      Mike; yes you can.
      I have read carefully your planting a lawn instructions, I cannot afford loam that the repair contractor recommended. To prep soil, would it help to rent a tractor with tines or disks to break up the soil, then level it by using my Mahindra tractor with bucket loader/plow pushing it down, flat?

      2. How can I figure out what kind of grass seed to buy? I live in Mane

      3. How can I best keep area watered while seed grows and how often does it need to be watered?

      Reply
      • Judy James says

        May 20, 2020 at 11:53 pm

        WOW! THANKS FOR QUICK REPLY.

        I Goofed, however, Are is 3200 square feet!! Would a tractor be good for that?

        Reply
        • Mike says

          May 21, 2020 at 8:06 am

          Judy,

          It could be but it depends on how much room you have to maneuver the tractor around and how big the tractor is and what implements you would be using.

          Reply
  2. Nancy Spraker says

    May 4, 2020 at 6:34 pm

    I have had these for several years and they have been beautiful! but last year mine got a black spot on the leaves . I took to the farm extension, they told what to spray on they….did not help. I don’t want to lose them, any ideas? I have them in different places and the (black spot) was on all of them! Thank You

    Reply
    • Mike says

      May 5, 2020 at 8:49 am

      Nancy,

      I don’t think I’d be concerned. Usually caused by high humidity and goes away the next season. You can try spraying them early, before it gets humid.

      Reply
  3. EJ says

    April 22, 2020 at 7:35 am

    Can I buy some black eyed susan from you? Or send me some email addresses of some of your growers.

    Reply
    • Mike says

      April 22, 2020 at 8:24 am

      EJ,

      I don’t ship any plants. The only way to connect with our growers is through the members area. http://backyardgrowers.com/join
      Sorry.

      Reply
  4. Sandra Mullins says

    April 22, 2020 at 1:02 am

    Hi Mike,
    We have a tall CrepeMyrtle &.its been there a while. In the meantime birds have dropped some seeds or something magical happened and we have quite a few little ones, but they fell and are growing in my flower bed. We tried to dig them up, but the root is very long and doesn’t want to come out of the ground according to my husband.
    What do you suggest and does it hurt it to cut that root. Also , when’s the best time to move them and plant elsewhere. There’s just not room in the flower bed.
    Thank you !

    Reply
    • Mike says

      April 22, 2020 at 8:28 am

      Sandra,

      When they are dormant they are easy to move and you can cut the roots. But once leafed out it will likely kill them.

      Reply
  5. Darrel says

    April 12, 2020 at 7:05 pm

    Mike, I had black Eyed Susan mixed in my wildflowers, they did not do well and were scraggly, can you get cuttings from this type of planting, although I don’t have these wildflowers anymore I was thinking of going back to them

    Reply
    • Mike says

      April 13, 2020 at 4:44 pm

      Darrel,

      They can be rooted but really need to be put into a bed in the ground before winter. They young perennial cuttings don’t do well if not a bit established before winter.

      Reply
  6. Michelle Miller says

    April 4, 2020 at 7:39 pm

    Mike,
    I have had the cherry Brandy. They did not do as well as others. In fact, I dont even think they came back the next year.

    Reply
  7. Karen Warren says

    April 4, 2020 at 3:00 pm

    Hi, Mike! How do you keep your Black-Eyed-Susan bed weeded? Do you use mulch? If so, what kind? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Mike says

      April 5, 2020 at 10:18 am

      Karen,

      We do mulch that bed but usually with just free wood chips from tree trimmers and it’s not really a good mulch. But the plants are pretty tight in the bed and keep the weeds at at bay.

      Reply
  8. Gail says

    April 4, 2020 at 1:58 pm

    Do you have a red maple tree that is really true red always, and how much is it?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      April 5, 2020 at 10:19 am

      Right now I have one right now. Pixie $149. https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/acer-palmatum-pixie

      Reply
  9. Hugo Rengifo says

    April 4, 2020 at 1:14 pm

    DearMike:
    this flower,black eyed susan is the same that we (in Peru,south hemisphery ) knows and call as ‘girasol’ or ‘sunflower’
    thanks by your guide.
    Greetings
    Hugh

    Reply
  10. Carolyn says

    April 4, 2020 at 1:12 pm

    These are beautiful, but the kind I have (I think it’s the standard run-of-the-mill one) requires some work to keep them in one area. They reseed abundantly, so be careful where you plant them if you don’t want to work at keeping them contained.

    Reply
    • Mark says

      April 21, 2020 at 11:30 pm

      They are the scourge of my garden and yard.. I planted a few four years ago for my wife and they have worked tirelessly to take over my entire yard and gardens. A constant battle. I wish I had never planted them!

      Reply
  11. Don says

    April 4, 2020 at 12:32 pm

    About five years ago, my daughter gifted me a bag of wildflower seeds. Those seeds yielded dozens of Black-Eyed Susans, yellow Coreopsis, and pink Echinacea Coneflowers. They continue to multiply and come back every year. I highly recommend them.

    Reply
  12. Terry says

    April 4, 2020 at 12:22 pm

    I got some seed for Black-eyed Susan. It says on the package, “short-lived perennial. Lives only about 3 years.” Is that your experience?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      April 5, 2020 at 10:24 am

      Terry,

      Truth be told that’s kinda the case with a lot of perennials but I’ve not experienced that with these. But most perennials if you dig them up and divide them every few years they do far better.

      Reply
  13. Keith Munday says

    April 4, 2020 at 9:29 am

    What time of year do you divide them?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      April 4, 2020 at 10:24 am

      Keith,

      Early spring is the ideal time to divide Black Eyed Susans.

      Reply
  14. Gloria Jaime says

    March 31, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    I love black-eyed susans. Do they grow in sunny California? I live in So. Calif. and I don’t know if they will grow here,

    Reply
    • Mike says

      April 1, 2020 at 9:19 am

      Gloria,

      That’s a good question, they are pretty darn tough in the sun. Do they sell them at local garden stores? That would tell you.

      Reply
      • Geo says

        April 4, 2020 at 11:15 am

        Mike, blackeyed susans come up volunteer here in north San Diego County.. They certainly do well in this climate about halfway between beach and desert. They appear after spring rains.

        Reply
  15. Robyn says

    March 26, 2020 at 11:49 am

    I live on the southern coast of Maine. Two years ago, a variety of black eyed susan made it’s way into my yard and they were double and triple headed. It was amazing. I saved seeds but none came back last year. Do you have any idea what kind they are? I saw nothing like it in my neighborhood.

    Reply
    • Mike says

      March 27, 2020 at 8:38 am

      Robyn,

      I have no idea and the fact that they did not come back makes them sound like some kind of an annual flower.

      Reply
  16. Jay says

    March 10, 2020 at 5:48 pm

    I love them because they are one of the few flowers that thrive later in the summer. I planted mine from seed. Are there any more flowers like it that actually do well in the mid to late summer?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      March 11, 2020 at 9:30 am

      Jay,

      A lot of perennials bloom later in the summer, cone flowers for sure as well as lots of others.

      Reply
      • Judy Ives says

        April 4, 2020 at 9:50 am

        Jay,

        Japanese anemones bloom later in the summer. It’s a perennial but the greens are beautiful until the flowers bloom. I have white and pink blooms. I use the cut flowers in vases wit( other flowers. They spread a lot also. I have dug up many clumps and given them to a few freinds.

        Reply
  17. Marty says

    February 24, 2020 at 11:02 am

    I only garden a little but so enjoy reading and learning. thanks and by all means stay inspired:) Marty
    I am already on your email list. Please do not in any way share my info. I trust you don’t.

    Reply
    • Mike says

      February 25, 2020 at 8:31 am

      Marty,

      Been at this 20 years online and have never shared an email address yet.

      Reply
  18. Cindy says

    February 23, 2020 at 8:40 am

    Is the black eyed susan I grow in my garden the same black eyed susan I see in the wild?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      February 24, 2020 at 8:07 am

      Cindy,

      I’d say similar. There are many varieties.

      Reply
      • Anonymous says

        February 24, 2020 at 1:26 pm

        Thanks! I am enjoying your youtube channel

        Reply
  19. Jessica says

    February 20, 2020 at 12:00 am

    Looking forward to the video!

    We’re gearing up to put our first real plots in at the new place and I’ve been considering growing these. Thanks for all the great content!

    Reply
  20. Cathy says

    February 19, 2020 at 8:44 am

    Every time i divide my black eye Susans the look limp afterwards for days? Then i pull them out thinking i killed them.

    Reply
    • Mike says

      February 20, 2020 at 8:31 am

      Cathy,

      Do them while still dormant, not during the growing season.

      Reply

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