Goldsturm black-eyed Susan

Sun

Full sun gives the most flowers and strongest stems; tolerates light partial shade.

Water

Moderate water needs. Keep newly planted clumps evenly moist; established plants tolerate brief dry spells but flower better with water during prolonged drought.

Soil

Average, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage. Tolerates clay if it does not remain waterlogged, and grows in mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soil.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

1.5-2.5 ft (0.45-0.75 m), gradually widening

Flowers

Midsummer to early autumn; golden-yellow rays around raised, dark brown cones.

Foliage

Rough-textured, dark green, oval to lance-shaped leaves with toothed edges; foliage dies back in winter.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

3. After 2 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply during the first growing season whenever the soil begins to dry.
• Spread a thin layer of compost around clumps in spring; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding, which encourages floppy growth.
• Mulch to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the crowns.
• Water at soil level rather than wetting the leaves, especially where leaf spot is a recurring problem.
• Divide crowded clumps every three to four years in spring, replanting vigorous outer sections.

Pruning. Remove spent flower stems during the flowering season if you want a tidier appearance and fewer seedlings. Otherwise, leave seedheads for birds and winter structure, then cut dead stems to just above ground level in late winter or early spring before new growth develops.

Early spring

Cut back remaining dead stems before new shoots lengthen.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps, water thoroughly and apply a thin compost mulch.

Late spring

Check young shoots for slug and snail damage and protect them where necessary.

Summer

Water during prolonged dry weather and check lower leaves for spotting.

Late summer

Deadhead for a neater display, or retain some flowerheads for seed-eating birds.

Autumn

Remove badly diseased foliage, but leave healthy stems and seedheads standing if wanted.

• Plant repeated groups through a sunny mixed border to link late-summer flowers with a consistent band of yellow.
• Combine with switchgrass and purple coneflower in prairie-style planting for contrasting flower shapes and upright seedheads.
• Place beside purple or blue salvias and asters for a strong warm-and-cool colour contrast.
• Use in informal cottage borders, allowing space for clumps to widen without crowding neighbouring plants.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, New perennial (prairie), Pollinator garden, Wildlife garden, Midwest prairie and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Purple coneflower, Switchgrass, Little bluestem, New England aster, Perennial salvia and Stonecrop.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies and other insects. Retained seedheads feed seed-eating birds, particularly finches in North America.

• Leaf spot, including Septoria and angular leaf spot, can blacken lower leaves: provide space for airflow, water at soil level and remove infected fallen foliage.
• Powdery mildew may coat leaves in dry, crowded conditions: divide congested clumps, improve airflow and avoid allowing the roots to dry out repeatedly.
• Slugs and snails can eat emerging shoots: inspect on damp evenings, remove pests and use wildlife-conscious controls where needed.
• Weak stems or poor flowering often result from shade or excessive feeding: move plants to a sunnier position and reduce nitrogen fertiliser.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is generally recognised as poisonous, but it is not a food plant; handling the leaves or sap can occasionally irritate sensitive skin.

• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

  Usually has more conspicuously bristly stems and leaves and is often an annual, biennial or short-lived perennial, rather than a persistent, spreading clump like 'Goldsturm'.

• Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba)

  Taller and more openly branched, with numerous smaller flowers; some lower leaves have three distinct lobes.

Rudbeckia honours the Swedish botanists Olof Rudbeck and his son, while 'Goldsturm' is German for 'gold storm', referring to the mass of golden flowers.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring to retain the cultivar's characteristics. Seedlings may differ from 'Goldsturm', so use division when you want matching plants.

Accepted botanical name

Rudbeckia sullivantii Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' is an older name for Rudbeckia sullivantii.

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states. Introduced in Canada.

Native range

Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.