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Annual Biennial

Rudbeckia hirta 'Irish Eyes'

black-eyed Susan 'Irish Eyes'

A short-lived perennial, usually grown as an annual, to 75cm in height, from mid-summer to early autumn produces classic golden-yellow flowerheads with narrow, slightly-tapered ray florets surrounding a pale-green "eye" that turns yellow-brown as the disc florets open

Synonyms

Rudbeckia hirta 'Green Eyes'

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Rudbeckia may be annuals, biennials or rhizomatous herbaceous perennials, with simple or pinnately divided leaves and large daisy-like flower-heads with yellow or orange rays surrounding a prominent conical disk
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Best grown as a half-hardy annual. Grows well in moderately fertile, preferably heavy but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown with gentle heat in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Gravel garden
Wildlife gardens
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Bedding

Pruning

Deadhead spent flowers

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds if air circulation is poor

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