Feature Story
Landscape AlterNATIVEs: A Guide to Native Landscape Plants: BLACK-EYED SUSAN (Rudbeckia hirta) by Steven Yergeau, Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent - Ocean & Atlantic Counties
N
ative plants are a good way to incorporate sustainable vegetation into yards for clients who are environmentally minded. Native plants are adapted to local climate and soil conditions, requiring less water, fertilizers, and pesticides than non-native vegetation. For landscapers who have property owners looking for native alternatives to non-native vegetation, this column provides options to meet your client’s needs. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a native flower of the Asteraceae family, which includes asters, daisies, and sunflowers. It can grow up to 3 feet high with a spread of up to 4 feet at maturity (Photo 1). Black-eyed Susan gets its name from the brown to black center part of its yellow daisylike flowers (Photo 2). Black-eyed Susan is a good choice of flowering plant for many yards as it grows in a wide variety of habitats such as fields, open woodlands, or roadsides. It comes in varieties that are annual, biennial, or short-lived perennials. Blackeyed Susan does best in well-drained, moderately dry soils that are acidic (<6.8 pH). It flourishes in open areas with full sun, but also grows well in partial sun. Black-eyed Susan thrives in soil that is occasionally disturbed. Management should include tilling the surrounding soil every two to three years to promote germination. Blooms should be clipped when they wilt to both promote blooming and reduce self-seeding. The benefits of black-eyed Susan are many. Black-eyed Susan is a showy ornamental plant that brings color to any landscaping, especially when blooming from summer to early fall (June to September). These flowers are great for cuttings as part of a floral arrangement. Black-eyed Susan is a wonderful plant for pollinators as many insects collect its pollen and nectar. Black-eyed Susan is a great choice to use instead of many non-native flowers, like yarrow (Achillea species), butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), and English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). You can find nurseries in New Jersey that sell native plants by visiting the Jersey-Friendly Yards website at http://www. jerseyyards.org/jersey-friendly-plants/where-to-buy-nativeplants/.
Photo 1: Black-eyed Susan flowering in late summer (Photo Credit: Steve Yergeau).
Steven Yergeau, Ph.D. is the Dept. Head and Agricultural Agent for Rutgers Co-operative Extension of Ocean County. He is also Assistant Professor for Ocean & Atlantic Counties. For more info visit http://ocean.njaes.rutgers.edu. Photo 2: Close up of the flowers that give black-eyed Susan its name (Photo Credit: Steve Yergeau).
28 WINTER/SPRING | 2021
