Black eye susan is a good ground cover?

Question

when does it bloom? how long? what light needs?

what does it look like the rest of the year after it blooms?

are there things that I can plant inside of it intersperse with something else to give colour when it is not in show?

THEY CAN BE CONSIDERED A GROUNDCOVER , RIGHT?

I AM WANTING TO USE THEM TO COVER A LARGE AREA?

Answer 1

Black-eyed Susan
'Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii Goldsturm'

Large, golden-yellow, daisy-like flowers up to 12cm (5in) across with cone-shaped, blackish-brown centres from August to October. This award-winning black-eyed Susan looks great planted in bold drifts with other late summer-flowering perennials and ornamental grasses. Coping well in sun or partial shade, it's ideal for the middle of a border that doesn't dry out over summer.
Position: full sun or partial shade
Soil: moderately fertile, preferably heavy but well-drained soil
Rate of growth: average
Flowering period: August to October
Flower colour: golden yellow
Other features: toothed, mid-green leaves; excellent, long lasting cut-flowers
Hardiness: fully hardy

Garden care: Lift and divide congested colonies in autumn or spring. Support with ring stakes or brushwood well before the flowers appear



Eventual height: 60cm
Eventual spread: 45cm

Answer 2

Where I live:

It blooms mid- to late summer (August) in full sun.

After it blooms, the plants tend to turn brown. However, the blooms last so long, don't let this deter you. By the time my plants are totally brown, frost is coming.

I do not personally consider this a groundcover. These grow in clumps over 2 feet tall. However, as a wildflower, they are often found in masses in fields, creating a beautiful scene.

Of course, there are many other plants that can add color around Black Eyed Susans. It will depend on your location. I recommend selecting several that bloom at different times, so you'll have color for the entire growing season.

Answer 3

I wouldn't use them, for a couple of reasons. 1) They are about 30 inches tall and are normal perennials. That said, perennials have a shelf life. In my yard, my black eyed susans lasted about 4 years. I did not go in and thin, as one should with self-seeding perennials. What happens is they seed so prolifically that many plants grow in a small space, and since they are crowded in there together, none are able to get the proper nutrients and kill themselves off very quickly. 2) Black eyed Susans produce way too much pollen, which is not good for all the folks out there with pollen allergies. Rudbeckia is a similar looking substitute which does not have as much allergy-provoking pollen. Black eyed susan is almost as bad as ragweed, it has so much. You may not have hayfever and allergies, but I try to garden responsibly and if you are thinking about a large area, please don't do it. 3) There's a weird little thing which goes on in garden called cross pollination. Black eyed susan is one of the culprits. What you have this year in your garden is not necessarily what you'll have next year in your garden. It affects Shasta daisies, some rudbeckias, and other tender plants by cross-pollinating. I don't know how it does that but next year your garden has different flowers and what was hardy the year before is now gone.

If you are still looking for a perennial with height (these plants are about 30" tall), yet want to avoid the pollen issue and would like a longer flowering season, I highly suggest echinacea, or purple coneflower. These are beautiful purple blooms with red to yellow centers, about 30" tall, with beautiful heart-shaped greenery. The flowers grow on tall, almost woody stems and stay for a month or more. I have not experienced the normal die-off of perennials, and I've had them in a large area for about 8 years. They are stunning, although I must admit I have not kept them as well as I should have done -- they were tended just the first year and have received no man-delivered water, no weeding, no thinning, no fall pick-up of old stems, and no fertilizer or nutrients ... and they are thriving. Their bloom season is June through September. They are prolific seed droppers too, so you could culture a huge area from a few strong plants in 1 year (I did it from 3 plants to an area of about 50 square feet). All it takes is transplanting the babies the following spring.

Goo dluck!

Answer 4

Here are a few examples of black eyed susans, Rudbeckia fulgida Goldstrum, grows 2 ft. 1/2 ft and Redbeckia nitida Herstonne Green eyed Susan, yellow bloom, grows 6-8 Feet, this plant is not a ground cover.They will bloom all summer and die when all other peerennials die, you can plant pansies in the winter for color depending on your climate, pansies prefer cold winters, s.e. U.S. They need full sun and have their flowers picked for bouquets to ensure fresh new flowers on the plant, this takeing of the flowers also helps the roots to become stronger, by not allowing the flower to go to seed. Cut your flowers around 10:00 in the morning, and when cutting, take the whole stem of the flower.

Answer 5

No they are not a ground cover. The growing habit is singular, tall (12" +) stems. Prefer full sun, bloom late spring to late summer. after blooming the foliage dies back leaving brown stalks and leaves (mow them down) You can plant just about anything as companion plants with them, too many to mention.

Answer 6

Black eyed Susan grows in clumps,they like sun and believe it or not ,filtered shade.Blooms Aug trough to Oct.When not in bloom....dark green pointed leaves.It's nice to plant a white blooming flower with this...achillia....looks almost like babies breath.These are good choices as night starts to fall they glow in the dark...Monadra...red...tall 4'....spreads like wild fire..Another fun thing to mix in with this is Monkshood...Tall purple flower...Blooms Sept to Nov....Likes drought. When not in show...try Shasta daisies....Good luck!!!!! Have fun!!!!...

Answer 7

I like them, but aren't they a little tall for ground cover?

Answer 8

my wifes name is susan , and i gave her a black eye last night ,but she is no good for anything.