There is no more familiar summer plant than Black Eyed Susan and no plant more essential to the native landscape. Fulgida is a slightly lesser known selection that ‘Goldsturm’ but it brings so much more to the garden. Fulgida is slightly smaller that ‘Goldsturm’ as are its flowers. Of course, we are splitting hairs here…Fulgida’s bloom is still big and, even better, it shows its golden rayed, deep brown coned flowers far longer than ‘Goldsturm’. Fulgida begins to bloom in July and is still ravishing in October when ‘Goldsturm’ is looking to hibernate meaning there are farm more blooms for nectar seeking native butterflies and far more seed on spent flowers to keep you native birds fed and happy. Use this easy to grow, drought resistant beauty in sunny area and in groups for breathtaking summer color

Combine the orange and yellow petals of ‘Prairie Glow’, and the sunny yellow Rudbeckia triloba and you’ve got a native medley for your garden, patio, birds, and bees! This winning mix not only provides gorgeous color all summer long, but is an important food source for our pollinators and songbirds

Stiff, strongly upright stems lord above the garden in summer bearing buds that open to reveal gold petaled, brown coned daisies that bloom from mid-summer through early fall. Perfect for cutting for a vase and attracting pollinators. 

A classic American Beauties garden favorite, triloba blooms like its life depended on it throughout the summer months with waves of yellow rayed, deep brown centered daisies. This Black Eyed Susan loves full sun and tolerates drought while still performing at its peak from June into September with flowers that drive nectar feeding butterflies to a feeding frenzy. Even spent flowers are wildlife magnets with finches and sparrows chowing down on the huge amounts of seed created making a garden with this plant even more colorful. Plant it in groups at the back of the garden and prepare for the easiest garden color show you’ve ever planted.

Deep yellow petals surround a dark brown center from mid-summer to fall on this little flowering machine! Much denser than ‘Goldsturm’, but with all the summer flower power.

This large perennial is not your typical black-eyed susan – 5′ tall mass of lobed green leaves create a sustantial presence in the garden or meadow. Large, lemon yellow flowers with a dark brown cone are held above the foliage on single stems. Blooming for more than 8 weeks, this native attracts butterflies all summer long. Tolerates hot humid summers but is not drought tolerant.

The Gold Standard among Rudbeckias! Superior uniformity, excellent disease resistance and 4″ golden semi-double flowers all season makes this a must have for your yard and patio. Compact and well branched plant with superior flower power! Great in borders or beds in a sunny location, or as the summer long “thrill” in a mixed container. Excellent for cut flowers.

Let’s face it, there are few more loved and more used plants in the garden that Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’, the Black Eyed Susan everyone knows and loves. The reality is that this much loved garden staple has some problems that can be a bit of a letdown from sparse bloom to form that can be a bit open and gangly. ‘Little Goldstar’ is a new selection that is vastly superior to ‘Goldsturm’ with a dense, uniform, compact size, strong flower stems and a propensity to bloom that makes ‘Goldsturm’ look like a slacker! Its tight, rounded form coats itself with flower buds in mid July that open to form an umbrella of foliage obscuring, 2.5″ diameter flowers with dark center cones surrounded by sharply pointed bright golden yellow rays from late July through September. The incredible bloom show far outshines that of ‘Goldsturm’ on a plant that takes up far less space while still having the attracting power for butterflies and birds that is such a Rudbeckia bonus. ‘Little Goldstar’ loves full sun and will thrive grouped in the ground or used in a mixed container on a deck or patio

Great color, attract butterflies and birds, very easy to grow and maintain. Should I continue? Long-blooming 3-4″ daisy flowers shine golden yellow against the dark green foliage. The center cone of the flower is almost black in color. Plant in full sun and moist soils. Blooms July-September. 1999 Perennial Plant of the year.

This Native Black Eyed Susan sets itself apart from the group as it combines beauty with strength, and offers slightly larger orange/yellow flowers than the group.  It is pollinator friendly, and is pest, including deer, and disease resistant.  This easy to grow and maintenance free beauty make it a great addition to any garden or cut arrangement.