Black-eyed Susan is an opportunist that thrives easily in disturbed areas.  It has naturalized through most of the continent. A biennial, it blooms and completes its life cycle in its second year but will re-seed. Exceptionally showy and easy to grow, Rudbeckia hirta has a prolonged floral display that attracts butterflies and other beneficial insects. The late season seedheads attract finches and other birds. Easy to grow and very drought tolerant, this rudbeckia will tolerate heat, drought and a wide range of soils, but does not like poorly-drained wet soils. It is a coarse, hairy, somewhat weedy plant that features daisy-like flowers (to 3” across) with bright yellow to orange-yellow rays and domed, dark chocolate-brown center disks. Blooms throughout the summer atop stiff, leafy, upright stems growing 1-3’ tall. Rough, hairy, lance-shaped leaves (3-7” long).
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