How to Grow Black-eyed Susan in a Container

A black-eyed Susan, or Rudbeckia hirta, produces bright yellow or orange flowers above a mound of green foliage. The petals radiate outward from the dark center, which resembles an eye staring at the sky. While black-eyed Susans are often grown in wildflower beds, they are also attractive in containers. Bed-grown flowers tend to self-seed and may invade other areas of the garden. While black-eyed Susans are short-lived perennials, they are usually treated as annuals when planted in pots.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Container
• Potting soil
• Fertilizer

1. Fill a 10-inch or 12-inch pot with moistened potting soil to within 2 inches of the rim. Use a pot that is as deep as it is wide with at least one bottom drainage hole.
2. Remove the black-eyed Susan from its nursery pot. Plant it in the container at the same depth at which it was growing in the nursery pot. The place where the stem of the plant emerges from the root system should sit at or slightly above soil level.
3. Set the container in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Too little light inhibits blooming.
4. Water the container from the top until the excess moisture begins to drain out the bottom. Water thereafter when the top inch of soil begins to feel dry, which can be as often as daily during hot weather.
5. Fertilize the plant once a month with a soluble, balanced fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer at the rate recommended on the label for your container size.
6. Pinch off the old blossoms once they begin to fade. This process, called deadheading, prevents seed formation, which encourages the black-eyed Susan to produce more flowers.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many varieties of black-eyed Susans. They grow to various heights and spreads.

• These flowers may attract aphids and other insect pests. Treat any infestations immediately with an insecticidal soap.