Black-eyed Susan
Prairie Sun Rudbeckia is a compact, bicolor black-eyed Susan that brings cheerful summer-to-fall color to gardens in zones 9-10. This open-pollinated cultivar reaches 30-36 inches tall and blooms reliably from June through November, typically flowering 84-112 days from seed. The unique bicolor petals and long vase life make it as much at home in a border as it is in a vase, and it handles drought well once established while still performing best with consistent moisture.
Full Sun
High
9-10
36in H x 24in W
Annual, Biennial, Perennial
High
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The bicolor petals set this variety apart from standard black-eyed Susans, creating a distinctive visual appeal that draws the eye. Blooming for six months straight through summer and deep into fall, Prairie Sun keeps the garden vibrant long after many annuals fade. It's genuinely low-maintenance, deer-proof, and attracts pollinators relentlessly, while also thriving as a cut flower that lasts beautifully in water.
Prairie Sun excels as a cut flower, with petals at their freshest when harvested in early morning just as they open. The long stems and extended vase life make it excellent for fresh arrangements and bouquets. In the garden, it shines in borders, cottage gardens, and pollinator plantings where its bicolor blooms create visual interest from early summer through the first frost.
Sow seeds into 72 to 50-cell plug flats 5-7 weeks before planting out. Cover seeds very lightly, as light is essential for germination. Bottom water or mist gently to avoid covering the seed. Alternatively, sow in containers 8-10 weeks before your last frost date, cover with a humidity dome to retain moisture, and maintain temperatures of 65-75°F. Expect sprouts in 7-14 days.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days. Transplant after your last frost date in spring. Space plants 12 inches apart in full sun. Enrich soil with about 2 inches of compost or organic granular fertilizer prior to planting.
In zones 8 and warmer, you can direct sow after your last frost date. Surface sow seeds and firm them lightly into the soil. Keep the soil consistently moist until germination occurs.
For fresh-cut flowers, harvest in the morning when blooms are at their freshest and petals are just opening. Use a clean knife dipped in a 10% household bleach solution to cut stems. A few drops of bleach added to your vase water will prolong the flowers' beauty. For seed saving, allow blooms to open completely on the plant before collecting dried seed heads.
Pinching is not required. Allow the plant to develop its compact, branching form naturally. Deadheading spent blooms extends the flowering season, though the plant is prolific enough that this isn't strictly necessary.
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