Black-eyed Susan grows one to three feet tall. It bears two to three-inch yellow blossoms with dark centers surrounded by 10 to 20 daisy-like yellow petals. It bears one to several flower heads per plant. The stems are slender and covered with tiny hairs. Its two to seven-inch leaves are slender, toothless, and covered with hairs. It prefers moist to dry, well-drained soil. It grows in sun and partial shade in meadows, prairies, fields, and dry, open, deciduous woodlands.
This native wildflower, Rudbeckia hirta, plays a vital role in supporting pollinators—its nectar attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, while its seed heads feed songbirds like goldfinches in late summer. It also serves as a host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly caterpillar. (July)