Blackeyed Susan

Blackeyed Susan is a native, biennial, popular in wildflower gardens and is also a useful component of erosion-control mixes for road cuts and hillsides.  It’s bright yellow petals that fall from a dark center makes it a striking plant.  In Colorado, it is found at elevations between 5,000 and 9,500 feet.  Because it is a biennial, it usually develops as a rosette the first year and flowers the second year, although some plants may flower their first year.   Blackeyed Susan is extremely drought tolerant but supplemental water during dry periods will improve stand density and extend the flowering period.  Birds, bees, and butterflies are attracted to its 2- to 3-inch-wide flowers, and birds like its seeds.  It is not attractive to deer, so it is a wildflower that can do particularly well in areas with large deer populations.  Seed is best sown in the late fall after frost and should be covered with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil.