Black Eyed Susan is grown for its orange blooms, which open in summer. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 7 and shrugs off deer. Its summer flowers are a real draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Zones
3-7
pH Range
5.5-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
120
Score Black Eyed Susan on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether black eyed susan actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score black eyed susan against your land's real conditions.
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What Black Eyed Susan is
Black Eyed Susan reaches around a foot at maturity. It blooms orange in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Black Eyed Susan
Black Eyed Susan grows in USDA zones 3 through 7. Black Eyed Susan does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,000 growing degree days to mature, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-7
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
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Drainage
well (dry spells)
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Frost Tolerance
50°F
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Days to Maturity
120 days
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GDD Required
1000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1 ft
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Frost-Free Days
0+
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Start the season right
Plant black eyed susan in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Black Eyed Susan prefers pH 5.5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut black eyed susan blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — black eyed susan isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Black Eyed Susan is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Black Eyed Susan thrives
Black Eyed Susan is hardy across USDA zones 3 through 7. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–7·Where Black Eyed Susan growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Black Eyed Susan can grow in these states:
See if Black Eyed Susan will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether black eyed susan actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Black Eyed Susan in my zone?
Black Eyed Susan grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Black Eyed Susan?
Most growers plant black eyed susan after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Black Eyed Susan need?
Black Eyed Susan needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Black Eyed Susan need?
Black Eyed Susan prefers soil pH 5.5 to 8, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Black Eyed Susan attract pollinators?
Yes — black eyed susan's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Black Eyed Susan safe for pets?
Black Eyed Susan is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.