Page 29 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
P. 29
ck-eyed Susan
(Rudbeckia hirta)
Description
Both the sword-shaped leaves and
stem are coarse and covered with stiff
hairs. The yellow daisy-like flowers have
a dark brown to black center and are
present from June until frost. Although a
biennial plant, it reseeds easily. It grows
up to 1 meter tall.
Black-eyed Susans are a member of Black-eyed Susans are Maryland’s
the sunflower family and are closely state flower. The Preakness Stakes
related to coneflowers. is a horse race run every May in
Maryland. This famous race is also
Distribution and Habitat known as “The Run for the Black-
eyed Susans” because a blanket of
This plant thrives in full sun and Black-eyed Susans is placed on the
tolerates a range of soil conditions. winning horse. Interestingly, Black-
It is found along roadsides, in eyed Susans are not blooming at
open fields and in neighborhood the time of the race. The winner
flower beds. It is common in all five is actually decorated with yellow
physiographic provinces. daisies whose centers are hand-
painted black to look like the state
flower.
Role in Food Web
Black-eyed Susans are a food
source for Eastern Cottontail Rabbits,
White-tailed Deer, honeybees,
grasshoppers, carpenter ants, various
butterflies and moths, American
Goldfinches, Northern Cardinals,
sparrows and other songbirds.
r 25 r
(Rudbeckia hirta)
Description
Both the sword-shaped leaves and
stem are coarse and covered with stiff
hairs. The yellow daisy-like flowers have
a dark brown to black center and are
present from June until frost. Although a
biennial plant, it reseeds easily. It grows
up to 1 meter tall.
Black-eyed Susans are a member of Black-eyed Susans are Maryland’s
the sunflower family and are closely state flower. The Preakness Stakes
related to coneflowers. is a horse race run every May in
Maryland. This famous race is also
Distribution and Habitat known as “The Run for the Black-
eyed Susans” because a blanket of
This plant thrives in full sun and Black-eyed Susans is placed on the
tolerates a range of soil conditions. winning horse. Interestingly, Black-
It is found along roadsides, in eyed Susans are not blooming at
open fields and in neighborhood the time of the race. The winner
flower beds. It is common in all five is actually decorated with yellow
physiographic provinces. daisies whose centers are hand-
painted black to look like the state
flower.
Role in Food Web
Black-eyed Susans are a food
source for Eastern Cottontail Rabbits,
White-tailed Deer, honeybees,
grasshoppers, carpenter ants, various
butterflies and moths, American
Goldfinches, Northern Cardinals,
sparrows and other songbirds.
r 25 r
