Garden Highlights:
Black-Eyed Susan is the perennial plant of the year
by Christine Yesko
Black-Eyed Susan is the perennial plant of the year according to the Perennial Plant Association.
A hybrid between several species of “Rideckia, American Gold Rush”, is an easy grower with a compact habit, long late-summer bloom time, and foliage that stays healthy. It has daisy-like flowers that appear atop upright stems from midsummer into autumn. The rays are golden yellow and the cones, are deep brown. Foliage is medium green, long and narrow, with finely haired leaves that form at the basal clump of the foliage. They show excellent resistance to powdery mildew and leaf spot, which could be a problem for Black-Eyed Susans.
It grows about two feet tall and can spread nearly twice as wide. It prefers full sun to partial shade. It grows best in lean-to-average soil with good drainage. Avoid fertilizing, which can cause lanky growth. It can tolerate dry periods but water regularly when the plant is getting established. Leave seed heads standing for birds in the fall and winter, then cut back in the spring. This plant may reseed in the garden and is hardy in USDA Zones 4-9.
Information was obtained from Horticulture. Stay warm.
