🌻 When to Plant Black-Eyed Susans

🌸 Flower
Cool Season

Native wildflower; drought-tolerant; self-seeds; attracts goldfinches and pollinators

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.

Find my zone
Zone Last Frost Start Indoors Transplant Direct Sow
Zone 2A May 30 Apr 4 May 16 May 2
Zone 3B May 15 Mar 20 May 1 Apr 17
Zone 4A May 8 Mar 13 Apr 24 Apr 10
Zone 4B May 1 Mar 6 Apr 17 Apr 3
Zone 5A Apr 25 Feb 28 Apr 11 Mar 28
Zone 5B Apr 18 Feb 21 Apr 4 Mar 21
Zone 6A Apr 21 Feb 24 Apr 7 Mar 24
Zone 6B Apr 10 Feb 13 Mar 27 Mar 13
Zone 7A Apr 5 Feb 8 Mar 22 Mar 8
Zone 7B Mar 28 Jan 31 Mar 14 Feb 28
Zone 8A Mar 20 Jan 23 Mar 6 Feb 20
Zone 8B Mar 12 Jan 15 Feb 26 Feb 12
Zone 9A Feb 28 Jan 3 Feb 14 Jan 31
Zone 9B Feb 15 Dec 21 Feb 1 Jan 18
Zone 10A Feb 1 Dec 7 Jan 18 Jan 4
Zone 10B Jan 15 Nov 20 Jan 1 Dec 18
Zone 11A Jan 1 Nov 6 Dec 18 Dec 4

Black-eyed Susans are tough, cheerful native wildflowers that bloom all summer without demanding much — pollinators and goldfinches adore them.

Top Growing Tips

  • Native to North America — extremely drought-tolerant once established
  • Self-seeds freely; deadhead to control or leave seed heads for birds
  • Divide clumps every 3-4 years to maintain vigor
  • Works beautifully in naturalized areas, meadow gardens, and borders
  • Deer-resistant; one of the few flowers they reliably leave alone

Companion Planting

Good companions: coneflowers, lavender, ornamental grasses, bee balm

Avoid planting near: Poorly-drained soil — susceptible to root rot

Harvest Timeline

Ornamental; leave seed heads standing in fall for wildlife