Rudbeckia Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta, aka. Black Eyed Susan are quite the beautiful plant with yellow flower pedals with a black eye. Like many perennials it can bloom multiple times in one season provided that the plant is cut back a fertilized. With that in mind the Black Eyed Susan flower is also a great plant for cut flowers. The plant can reach a height of 3 feet depending on the variety of Rudbeckia. The roots but not the seed heads of the Rudbeckia hirta can be used in a warm infusion as a wash for sores, swellings and snake bites. This is very similar to the use of Echinacea purpurea root. The leaves are diamond shaped 4 to 7 inches long with three conspicuous veins. The Stem grows up to 3 ft long. It stand bristly erect and branches out  in spots. The Black-Eyed Susan's Flower has a daisy like flower head has a dark center with yellow long pedals. The Rudbeckia's flowering head is usually up to 3 inches wide with 10 to 20 yellow or golden pedals. The receptacle is usually purplish brown, looking black from a short distance. The Rudbeckia Black Eyed Susan is a great perennial for the middle to back of the perennial garden do to it's height. A good companion plant for Coneflower, Pennisetum, Tall Garden Phlox, Russian Sage and Cat Mint, Joe Pye Weed Eupatorium.