One of the nicest varieties of our beloved native Rudbeckia, Little Suzy Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’) stays trim and tidy! These natural dwarfs are prolific bloomers! The showy display starts in mid-summer and lasts well into fall.
Each bloom features electric yellow petals encircling a dark brown disc that is composed of individual tiny flowers. Over the course of the season, seeds develop in the dark, brownish-purple centers.
Butterflies love the flat landing pad to feast on summertime nectar. Please keep the plants standing during your fall cleanup. You’ll love the way the dried blooms catch and sculpt light, fluffy snowfall. Birds will also appreciate your thoughtfulness, as they find the valuable seed food source! Overwintering songbirds peck at the nutrient-rich seeds.
Little Suzy makes a big statement with brilliant color. The foliage is dark green and medium-textured, and the contrasting color “pops” the happy yellow blooms. Add the cut flowers to indoor arrangements. Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty to choose from, and more on the way! This special variety is well-known for the abundance and length of its flowering period.
You can call her the “Energizer Bunny” of blooms! And you won’t need to fuss over this easy-care, low-maintenance selection. Little Suzy is durable, Xeric, heat tolerant, and cold-hardy. This giving plant earns a place of honor in your landscape design. Rely on her as a showy staple in your landscape design.
Planting and Application:
Enliven your mature foundation plantings with Little Suzy! They are perfectly suited for use in the front yard with their crisp and clean form. Great garden edging, they grow happily along the sunny hot portions of the landscape. Run a colorful ribbon of them all along your borders, or use them as facer plants to hide the bare stems of leggy shrubs.
Of course, you’ll love them throughout your yard near the front of your planting beds. They make wonderful “Fillers” in large exterior containers. Or brighten up a walkway in a narrow planting bed. Add them on either side of your front door for a cheery greeting!
Create a fresh take on “Modern” plantings with an organic collection of many different Black-Eyed Susans in a rectangular raised bed. Play with height and color by planting a curated collection with other late-summer garden perennials.
These small plants beg you to loosen up and have a little fun! Why not create a classic Cottage Garden? Let them shine with Landscape Roses, Coneflowers, and Sedum groundcovers. Use these compact plants near the edge of your Butterfly Gardens and cut flower borders as well! This is a wonderful plant to include in a Children’s Garden. They’ll learn so much about life by watching the beautiful wings of visiting butterflies and helpful pollinators.
- Easy-Care Selection of a Native Plant
- Plenty of Cheerful, Golden-Yellow Flowers
- Dark Green Foliage & Tidy, Uniform Habit
- Starts Blooming Mid-Summer & Doesn’t Quit Until Fall
- Feed Butterflies & Helpful to Pollinators & Birds Eat The Seeds
- Great in Cut Flower Arrangements & Excellent in Containers
Tips for Care:
These are great plants for the first-time gardener! They are so easy to grow! Of course, their charm isn’t lost on experienced plant lovers, either. They know a good thing when they see it! Plant Little Suzy Black-Eyed Susan in full sun for the best bloom production. They will tolerate partial shade, as long as they receive at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day.
These prairie plants require well-drained soil types. If you have poorly drained soil, simply grow them in a raised bed or container. Pay attention to the water during the first season. Poke your finger into the soil near your plant. Skip watering if it feels moist. Check again the next day. Provide a medium amount of water as it starts to get dry. Give Little Suzy a medium amount of supplemental water if you don’t receive adequate rainfall. She’ll perform her best with regular water.
As you can, deadhead the spent flowers using a sharp pair of garden snips. You’ll tidy the plant and encourage more blooming. In early spring, cut the dried stalks back to within an inch above ground level. Compost the stems for use in your Victory Garden. Or “chop and drop” to improve the quality of your soil over time. These perennials appreciate 3-4 inches of mulch over the entire root system for best results.
- Cold Hardy & Heat Tolerant
- Widely Adaptable To Any Well-Drained Soil
- Moderate to Low Moisture Needs
- Drought Tolerant Once Established
- Easy to Grow, Great for Beginners
- Deer Don’t Tend to Bother This Plant
It’s no secret that professional designers are on the hunt for this variety.
