Generally — Most Areas
black-eyed Susan (zones 3-7) partially overlaps with Kansas (5b-7a). It can grow in zones 5-7 within the state.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Kansas spans zones 5b-7a, but your yard has its own microclimate — slope, trees, and low spots shift frost and sun across a single parcel. Enter your address and we'll score black eyed susan against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.
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Zone Comparison
Black Eyed Susan Needs
- USDA Zones: 3-7
- Soil pH: 5.5 - 8
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: well (dry spells)
- Frost-Free Days: 0+
Kansas Has
- USDA Zones: 5b-7a
- Last Frost: Apr 5 - May 1
- First Frost: Oct 5 - Oct 30
- Annual Rainfall: 16-42 inches
- Common Soils: Prairie loam, Silt loam, Clay
Plant Zone Range (zones 3-7)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Black Eyed Susan in Kansas
The frost window
Across Kansas, the last spring frost clears between Apr 5 and May 1, and the first fall frost lands between Oct 5 and Oct 30 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 157-day window you can count on — up to 208 days on a mild site in a kind year.
Frost tenderness
Black Eyed Susan is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 50°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so set plants out after the last frost has cleared your local site, not the state's earliest date.
Days to maturity vs. the window
At 120 days to maturity (USDA PLANTS Database), a planting right after last frost ripens with 37 days to spare even in Kansas's tightest frost scenario — room for a later start or a second sowing.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Black Eyed Susan wants 0+ frost-free days; a typical Kansas site sees ~190 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Growing degree days
Black Eyed Susan needs ~1000 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~3850 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so Kansas's typical season clears that easily.
Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).
Soil + Drainage Fit
Black Eyed Susan likes near-neutral soil (pH 5.5-8). That's the common-ground band across Kansas's prairie loam and silt loam — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Kansas site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Kansas soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Black Eyed Susan in Kansas — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Generally — Most Areas
- Plant Zones: 3-7 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 5b-7a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: Apr 5 - May 1 to Oct 5 - Oct 30 (NOAA Climate Normals)
- Days to Maturity: 120 days
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Kansas growers also need to think about:
Low rainfall in western KS requires irrigation
Out west, drip lines and heavy mulch are the growing season — design the water before the beds.
Extreme wind and hail during severe storm season
Stage row cover for hail season and give young plants a windbreak — quick shelter saves seasons.
Hot dry summers with 100F+ days
Lean on the spring and fall windows, shade the summer survivors, and water deep and early in the day.
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Black Eyed Susan draws pollinators (high value, USDA PLANTS Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops.
Kansas Cooperative Extension
For Kansas-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for black eyed susan, the canonical source is K-State Research and Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Black Eyed Susan native to Kansas?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Black Eyed Susan as native to Kansas. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Black Eyed Susan in Kansas
When can I plant Black Eyed Susan in Kansas?
Kansas's last spring frost clears between Apr 5 and May 1, and the first fall frost lands between Oct 5 and Oct 30 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Black Eyed Susan is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 50°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so wait until the last frost has cleared your specific site before planting out.
Can Black Eyed Susan mature before first frost in Kansas?
Yes — Black Eyed Susan matures in 120 days (USDA PLANTS Database), and Kansas's dependable frost-free window runs 157 days (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020), leaving 37 days of margin. Plant just after last frost and it ripens ahead of the first fall frost.
What hardiness zone is Black Eyed Susan grown in across Kansas?
Kansas spans USDA hardiness zones 5b-7a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Black Eyed Susan carries a range of zones 3-7, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Kansas site have?
A typical Kansas site sees ~190 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Black Eyed Susan needs 0+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date.
Is Black Eyed Susan native to Kansas?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Black Eyed Susan as native to Kansas. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
How should I amend the soil for Black Eyed Susan in Kansas?
Black Eyed Susan prefers pH 5.5-8 and well (dry spells) drainage (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across Kansas soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Black Eyed Susan actually grow on my specific land in Kansas?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores black eyed susan against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in Kansas
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores black eyed susan against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
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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