Rudbeckia triloba
Brown-Eyed Susan
General
A North American native perennial plant celebrated for its prolific and long-lasting display of bright yellow flowers with dark centers. It typically grows between 2 to 5 feet (about 0.6 to 1.5 meters) tall, forming bushy clumps adorned with multiple flower heads. This hardy and adaptable plant thrives in a variety of soil conditions and is a favorite in gardens and naturalized landscapes for its cheerful blooms from mid-summer through fall.
Plant Description
Features tall, slender stems bearing numerous bright yellow flowers with prominent dark brown centers. Its leaves are rough-textured and lance-shaped, creating a lush backdrop to its vibrant blooms. This native North American perennial adds a burst of color and texture to gardens and meadows, attracting pollinators throughout its flowering season from summer into autumn.
Height (ft)
2-5 ft
Soil moisture
Well drained soils with average moisture content
Soil types
Range from loam, sand, clay soils
Wetland indicator
FACU
Shade tolerance
Full sun to part shade
Bloom color
Bright yellow with dark brown centers
Bloom period
Mid summer to fall
Drought tolerance
Moderate
Salinity tolerance
Low
Range
Found from the eastern seaboard westward to the Great Plains and into parts of the southeastern United States.
Kartesz, J.T. 2024. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP) [website http://bonap.org/]
Additional Information
According to the Royal College of Physicians Garden of Medicinal Plants, this species has been used by the Cherokee to bathe sores and snakebites. The Seminoles used this species in a treatment for headaches and fevers while the Miccosukee treated sunstroke and headaches with this species. Used as a treatment for worms as well by the Iroquois and Cherokee.