Black-eyed Susans delight in shades of yellow, orange and gold colors with a black center, or “eye.” Native to Tennessee, they are a popular addition to the water-wise garden. With flowers that are 2 to 3 inches across, and grow on long stems 2 to 3 feet in height, they make excellent cut flowers for vases and arrangements.
Black-eyed Susans are biennial, which means they live for two years. But in those two years, they attract butterflies and bees that drink the floral nectar, in the process moving pollen from one plant to another, allowing the plant to grow fruits and seeds which travel by wind and re-seed themselves.
Blooming from June to October, Black-eyed Susans are known as a pioneer plant; they are one of the first plants to grow in a new field. Amidst the devastation of a forest fire, these bright beacons of hope will be the first signs of new life.
When planting them in your garden, space them approximately one foot apart, and plant in a clumping form. They will tolerate crowding, and do well in any kind of soil. Drought-tolerant, they will forgive neglect; however, if you pamper them a little by adding a little fertilizer a couple of times a season, they will reward you with bigger, healthier plants and flowers. Plant them with purple coneflowers, Russian sage, and lilacs for visual punch. The giant variety is a natural with cosmos, penstemons, tall cannas, and as background accent plants.
One of the best companion plants for prairie-type flowers such as coneflowers, daisies, and Black-eyed Susans is the coreopsis. In June of 2008, the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture named coreopsis their Plant of the Month. A drought-tolerant plant, it is useful in container gardens, water-wise xeriscaping, cottage gardens, native prairie gardens, informal borders, or as mass plantings in a formal bed.
This is not a fragile plant. Hardy from zones 4 to 9, once established it requires little watering and very little fertilizer. The flowers are usually yellow with a toothed tip, and the foliage is green with a fern-like look. Their bloom time is very similar to that of the Black-eyed Susan; they can be enjoyed throughout summer and into the fall. The coreopsis’s cheery countenance prefers sunny gardens; to keep the blooms growing throughout the season, simply deadhead the spent blooms. If it flowers profusely, cut back the entire plant immediately after a fade for a repeat bloom. Allow it to go to seed at the end of the season to proliferate new plants.
Two marvelous plants, easy on the eye and on the gardener; adding them to your sun gardens will be certain to bring a smile to your face.