{"id":2087,"date":"2019-03-23T16:03:11","date_gmt":"2019-03-23T16:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2087"},"modified":"2020-01-22T08:48:16","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T08:48:16","slug":"14-interesting-facts-about-black-eyed-susan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-interesting-facts-about-black-eyed-susan\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Interesting Facts About Black Eyed Susan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Originating from the central and eastern regions of the United States, Black-eyed Susan is a herbaceous flower belonging to the aster family. Today, Black-eyed Susan covers the majority of States across the country, especially in the warmer areas with well-drained, sandy soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black-eyed Susan grows in prairies, fields, woodlands and you can plant them in your garden as well. This pioneering species is often the first flower to bloom in areas ravaged by wildfire, with over 90-species growing all across the country. They\u2019re a favorite flower of wildlife photographers, with the raised \u201ceye\u201d holding on to gold and yellow petals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These flowers reach heights of between 3 and 6-feet, and they grow abundantly in the wild. Adding the Black-eyed Susan to your garden doesn\u2019t require any particular nutrients or attention, they\u2019re a hardy species that grows easily throughout the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 14 interesting facts about Black-eyed Susan that you may not know.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.    The Maryland State Flower<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Black-eyed Susan made its inaugural appearance at the Maryland State flower during the Preakness Stakes Horse Race. Nowadays, you can find the flower adorning roadside verges, where it welcomes visitors to the Old Line State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Named as the State flower in 1918, the Black-eyed Susan features 13-leaves \u2013 an interesting comparison to the original 13-colonies of the United States. Maryland is one of the original States from the colonial days, and the Black-eyed Susan is a symbol that bears the same colors as the State flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Black-eyed Susan lends its name to the filly race that precedes the Preakness horse race, and the winner receives a blanket of the flowers. The flower also features as the name of a cocktail served during the event, although the drink doesn\u2019t include any parts of the flower. The Black-eyed Susan grows readily all over the State of Maryland, and it requires little attention to thrive.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2.    Black-Eyed Susan is a Coneflower<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Black-eyed Susan belongs to the coneflower family. This genus of plants includes the \u201cEchinacea,\u201d which is well-known for its medicinal and immune-boosting properties. The Black-eyed Susan reaches between 12 to 40-inches in height, and 18 to 12-inches in width across the petals. The stem of the flower is hardy and covered with tiny stiff hairs. Black-eyed Susan is resistant to the wind and the elements, making it easy to grow in all conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The elliptical leaves arrange themselves in a rosette form around the bee, with some plants shooting leaves from the stem during the second season. The leaves have a toothed edge with a rough texture. This perennial flower keeps growing season after season and groves of flowers are common throughout meadows and roadsides across the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black-eyed Susan produces a single flower head consisting of 8 to 20 orange-yellow florets that cluster into a cone-shape and turn dark toward the center.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3.    Watch The Bloom During the Summer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Black-eyed Susan propagates through seed and blooms in the summer months from June through to September. The flowers attract a variety of animals and insects that enjoy pollinating and grazing on the flowers. Black-eyed Susan produces small black seeds from the brown achene of the flower. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planting Black-eyed Susan in your yard requires \u00bd-lb of seed per acre for sufficient coverage. When sewn, the seeds grow readily with minimal care needed for successful flowering. The flowers last for most of the summer season and blend well with other grasses, forbs, and legumes in the garden. New seedlings perpetuate from the old crop, and you can expect the seeds to survive the wintertime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When in full bloom, Black-eyed Susan provides a pleasant aroma and a spectacular visual when planted in bunches. Harvest the flowers at the end of the summer season before the leaves begin to wilt. The flowers last for a week or more when correctly displayed in water with added salts.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4.    Black-Eyed Susan Supports Wildlife and the Environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Black-eyed Susan is a critical component of open areas and public land. The flowers support local wildlife, such as deer and rabbits, that feed on the flowers and leaves. The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly chooses the flower to lay eggs, which then turn to fodder for newly-hatched caterpillars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A wide variety of wildlife and insects rely on Black-eyed Susan as a source of sustenance and longevity for wildlife. Songbirds and game birds use groves of Black-eyed Susan for protection against predators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being that Black-eyed Susan covers vast regions of the United States, it serves a secondary environmental role in preventing soil erosion. Commercial animal farming and agriculture lay waste to large areas of land through overgrazing and flooding. Planting Black-eyed Susan helps to combat erosion by binding soil to the roots of flowers, preventing it from washing away. This functionality assists many areas across the country to retain the topsoil and remain fertile.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5.    Named After a Swedish Botanist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever wondered where Black-eyed Susan got its name? The scientific classification of the species comes from Sweden. Born in V\u00e4ster\u00e5s, Olaus Rudbeck was a famous botanist and professor of medicine at Uppsala University. The Black-eyed Susan garners its scientific name, \u201cRudbeckia,\u201d from the Swedish scientist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Rudbeck did not name the flower himself. The flower gained its initial name from the botanist Carl Linnaeus, in loving memory of Rudbeck and his son. Linnaeus studied under the tutelage of Rudbecks son, Olaus Rudbeck Jr. The Black-eyed Susan belongs to the Asteraceae family, which includes other coneflower species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The daisy-like appearance of Black-eyed Susan comes in a variety of colors from gold, yellow, and orange. Thus, the flower also holds the moniker of “gloriosa daisy” among landscapers and gardeners. The genus of the species includes a large number of coneflowers, including the Dracopis, Echinacea, and Ratibida. Black-eyed Susan developed its widely-known pseudonym only after its initial classification.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6.    Over 90 Varieties<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the best-known of all the coneflowers, Black-eyed Susan has over 90-varieties. The coneflower gains its moniker from the large cone in the center of the flower, with the leaves turning down and toward the stem in a drooping fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDouble-gold,\u201d \u201cToto,\u201d and \u201cIndian Summer,\u201d are three varieties commonly grown in gardens across the United States. With a vase-life of up to 10-days, Black-eyed Susan is a popular choice for florists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the other familiar variations of Black-eyed Susan include;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGolden Jubilee\u201d \u2013 created by the Big Flats Plant Materials Center in 1985. This variety features a shorter stem and a more extended flowering period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018\u2018Sonora\u2019\u2019 \u2013 featuring bright yellow flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecky Mixed\u201d \u2013 comes in colors, such as golden-yellow, lemon-yellow, reddish-brown, and dark red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018\u2018Toto\u2019\u2019 \u2013 a dwarf-type ideal for pots and containers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black-eyed Susan and its variations are incredibly popular with landscapers due to the hardy nature of the plant, its good looks, and low maintenance.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7.    Black-Eyed Susan as Traditional Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Black-eyed Susan has medicinal properties that make it famous for traditional treatments of a wide variety of ailments. The herbal properties found in varieties such as Echinacea provide excellent support for the immune system. Drinking a few drops of Echinacea concentrate helps soothe the symptoms of a cold and protect your body against possible future infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Native American tribes use Black-eyed Susan as an herbal treatment for various types of inflammatory disease and infection, from swelling and earache to treating snakebite. The powerful antimicrobial properties found in Black-eyed Susan make it suitable for eliminating worm infestations in children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concentrated drops made from the roots of the flower also help to relieve the symptoms of an earache, as well as provide the immune system with a much-needed boost. Some herbal medicine brands offer Echinacea drops \u2013 mix ten drops with 1-oz of water to dilute the sharp taste, the concentrated liquid has a strong, herbal flavor that only a few will be able to handle on its own.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8.    The Spirit of Black-Eyed Susan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that flowers have a language? The colors of the florets and the shape of their head create different emotions and feelings in the mind. Black-eyed Susan inspires justice and encouragement in the language of flowers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flowers and the feelings they lodge in our minds have long fascinated humankind. William Shakespeare drew such inspiration from flowers that they often play a central role in almost all of his literary works. However, the influence of flowers on feelings and emotions spread across the world from Egypt to Rome, and Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the 1800s, learning the symbolism of flowers was a favorite pastime enjoyed by many. It was common for families to keep a guide to flower language on the nightstand next to their Bible. Black-eyed Susan brings out the best in human emotions, and it\u2019s the ideal flower to present to someone who\u2019s going through a tough period in their life.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9.    Pest-Free Perennial<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Why not plant a flower bed of Black-eyed Susan this coming spring? If your garden suffers from pests and poor growing conditions, then this perennial might be the solution to your drab-looking garden this summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, Black-eyed Susan is a hardy plant that\u2019s resistant to disease. There are no pests or insect populations that feed on the flower, so you don\u2019t have to worry about worms and beetles eating your plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Black-eyed Susan is sometimes affected by powdery mildew on its stems. If you notice the leaves of the flower turning brown and twisting, you\u2019ll need to treat it with a fungicide to stop the spread of the mildew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some garden variety pests such as slugs and snails will feed on Black-eyed Susan if given the opportunity, and aphids also present a threat to the plant’s health. Fortunately, Black-eyed Susan produces a bitter sap that deer and rabbits find unpalatable. Therefore, you don\u2019t have to worry about these animals going to town on your flower beds.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10.    The Unseen Importance of Black-Eyed Susan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Black-eyed Susan plays an instrumental role in local wildlife habitats across the United States. Research conducted in the 1970s looked into the reflection of UV light in the corollas of Black-eyed Susan and other flowers in the Rudbeckia family. The results of the research were remarkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study shows that the reflections of ultraviolet light remain unseen to the human eye. However, bees and other pollinating insects see these UV reflections and use them to determine the pollen count of the flowers. Therefore, this flower supports healthy bee colonies as well, an insect that\u2019s currently under threat in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unique UV patterns emitted by the Black-eyed Susan are crucial for attracting insects that spread the pollen and propagate the flower across State lines. The next time you find yourself staring at the beauty of Black-eyed Susan, remember that there\u2019s a lot more going on in the environment than meets the eye.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11.    Habitats and Humans<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Black-eyed Susan is a favorite flower for potting and planting at home, and it also does well in roadside locations to prevent road verges from eroding. The distribution of this flower spreads across the country, with the most extensive wild groves found in fields and prairies in Mississippi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The popularity of Black-eyed Susan with landscapers and professional gardeners led to alterations in the flower structure through selective breeding programs. The advent of cross-breeding and inter-breeding these flowers led to cultivars with reddish ray flowers and longer ray flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a walk through public land, and you\u2019re bound to come across groves of Black-eyed Susan on the bases of bluffs, the openings to forests, glades, pastures, prairies, and old fields. Take a train ride through the heartland of the country, and you\u2019ll see them adorning the sides of railroads. The Black-eyed Susan is the most abundant flower in the mid-west and the Southern States.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12.    The Many Monikers of Black-Eyed Susan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we mentioned earlier, Black-eyed Susan has many family members in the species, and they all have unique names. However, Black-eyed Susan goes by many monikers. We doubt there\u2019s another flower with so many different calling cards as Black-eyed Susan. Some of the otherwise unknown names for this beautiful wildflower include;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Brown Betty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Brown-eyed Susan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Portland Daisy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Gloriosa Daisy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Brown Daisy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Yellow Daisy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Golden Jerusalem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Yellow Ox-eye Daisy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s interesting that so many names for this flower include it as a daisy. When searching for seeds online, you may come across the name \u201ccommon Black-eyed Susan\u201d as well. This variety is the same plant, and flowers with the same colors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people will understand what flower you\u2019re talking about if you start to add Black-eyed Susan into your gardening conversation. However, it depends on which part of the country you live in and what species of Black-eyed Susan populates the landscape.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13.    Named After a Poem<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While we are confident that the plant species Rudbeckia garnered its name from the famous Swedish scientist we previously mentioned \u2013 most are still at a loss to explain its moniker of \u201cBlack-eyed Susan.\u201d The most prevalent theory suggests that the flower got its name after a poem written by John Gay, an Englishman who lived between 1685-1732.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All in the downs, the fleet was moored,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Banners waving in the wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Black-Eyed Susan came aboard,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and eyed the burly men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Tell me, ye sailors, tell me true<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does my Sweet William sail with you?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though battle call me from thy arms<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let not my pretty Susan mourn;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though cannons roar, yet safe from harms<\/p>\n\n\n\n

William shall to his Dear return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love turns aside the balls that round me fly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lest precious tears should drop from Susan’s eye.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, who is \u201cSweet William,\u201d as described in the poem? We\u2019ll never know the origin of this person. However, we do know that it\u2019s the name of another wildflower common to the United States. Both flowers bloom during the same period \u2013 so, it makes for a fitting combination.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14.    Plant Black-Eyed Susan\u2019s in March<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The planting season for Black-eyed Susan starts in early to mid-march when the soil temperature reaches 70\u00b0F and lasts all the way through to the end of May. Germination of the seeds occurs in as little as 7-days, and the flowers bloom in the height of summer between June and September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plant your seeds or young flowers in beds with soil that drains well. This variety loves the sun, so make sure you give them a spot in your yard that allows them to sunbathe throughout the day. While Black-eyed Susan can survive and thrive in poor soil conditions, we recommend that you fertilize the soil a month before planting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plants typically grow to heights of between 1 and 3-feet, with a petal spread of up to 18-inches. Divide the perennial species every three years to prevent the plants from spreading. Remove any dead flowers or leaves to prolong the blooming cycle. If you cut back the flowers, they may bloom again in the late fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n