3-lobed Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia triloba

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  • Common name
    3-lobed Black-eyed Susan
  • Latin name
    Rudbeckia triloba
  • Plant type
    perennial
  • Flower color
    Numerous small, golden-yellow flowers (about 1–2 inches wide) with dark, chocolate-brown central disks.
  • Bloom time
    Mid summer through fall
  • Height
    24-60"
  • Chelsea chop
    Yes
  • Light requirements
    Prefers full sun to partial shade. It is more shade-tolerant than the common Black-eyed Susan (R. hirta).
  • Moisture
    Average though it is quite adaptable. It can handle clay, loamy, or slightly rocky soils and has moderate drought tolerance once established.
  • Native to Ontario
    Non-native to Ontario
  • Locally native
    No
  • Deer resistant
    Yes
  • Ecological benefit
    Because it blooms so late and so profusely, it is a vital nectar source for bees, wasps, and butterflies preparing for winter or migration. It supports several species of Andrena bees (mining bees) that specialize in the Asteraceae family. Like its relatives, it serves as a larval host for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly.
  • Notes
    The abundance of small seeds makes it a high-value winter food source for songbirds, including chickadees and finches.
  • Picture
    3-lobed Black-eyed Susan