Looking for an easy-to-grow flower that gives you big, pretty color in the late summer?
I’d like to introduce you to Black-Eyed Susan (officially, Rudbeckia — Rude-bek-ee-uh). It also goes by the name: Gloriosa Daisy.
There are MANY reasons to love this flower.
In this article, we’re going to chat about why Black-Eyed Susan plants can be great flowers for late summer gardens in the West.
More than a month of colorful blooms? Yes, please!
If you’re new to Black-Eyed Susan, it’s a showy flower that resembles a daisy.
It often has gold or yellow petals and a black, brown or green center.
Typically, in states like Colorado, it will bloom in late July, August and even early September, so it gives you pretty color when a lot of other flowers are done blooming.
The exact bloom time depends on where you live.
Here are reasons to include these pretty flowers in your western garden:
- They’re bright and showy, adding a BIG pop of gold color to your garden in mid- to late-summer.
- They bloom for a looooong time. You may get up to 2 months of color.
- Some grow well in mountain gardens, as well as down at lower elevations.
- They tend to be adaptable to our tricky western soils, from clay soil, to sandier soils.
- They grow well in the sun, but some will tolerate places in your garden that get a mix of sunshine and shade.
- Some are drought tolerant once they’re established. (Ideally, though, many of them prefer moderate water. You may want to plant them near a downspout or in a low area that stays more moist.)
- They don’t like a lot of fuss. They’re usually happier without things like fertilizer.
- They tend to be deer-resistant, meaning these plants aren’t Bambi’s first choice for breakfast.
Translation: This is an easy-going, low maintenance plant for western states like Colorado and Utah.
And cheers for plants that aren’t a lot of work, am I right?
But here’s what doesn’t always get mentioned…
Some types of Black-Eyed Susan are shorter-lived than others.
I share this with you because if your plant doesn’t come back, you may think you did something wrong.
But nope, you may have just purchased a shorter-lived Black-Eyed Susan! Find out how to tell them apart here.
Related topics that may interest you:
- 5 drought-tolerant spring flowers you plant in the fall
- Can you change the flowers in your pots for fall?
- Is it better to empty your flowerpots in the fall or spring?
