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Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia
hirta
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(2)
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Description
The Black-eyed Susan is a member of the daisy
family (5). It is a biennial
plant, annual or perennial that grows to 1-3 feet in height (3,2). It blooms from June to October and the blooms are 3-4
inches (2).
Geographic
Location
The Black-eyed Susan is found in North America from British Columbia to Newfoundland and
south to Florida and Mexico except in the arid southwest (1).
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Native
Habitat
Black-eyed Susan is native to the prairies of North America
(2).
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Optimal Growing
Conditions
The plant grows best in full sunlight and needs to be watered
to a level where it is moist or seasonably dry (2). Soil must be
well-drained (3). It grows best in soil that contains some organic
matter (3).
Can be propagated by planting seeds and barely
covering them with soil (2). It grows well in
zones 3-7 (2).
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(2)
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Economic
Importance
An extract from the root is used as an
antibiotic (6). It is also used in gardens and in landscaping for its
flowers (9). It is used in the popular deciding of love ("he loves
me, he loves me not")(5).
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(3)
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Ethnobotanical and
Cultural Information
The Black-eyed Susan is used by the Cherokee Indians to cure
many ailments such as a wash for snakebites, a wash for a "swelling
caused by worms", an infusion of root to bathe sores, taken for
earache, dropsy, "flux and some private diseases"
(4). Also it is used by the
Chippewa Indians to make a poultice with other flowers for babies (4).
The Black-eyed Susan is used by the
Iroquois to cure children with worms, and to help with heart troubles (4).
Also it is used by the
Potawatomi Indians to cure colds and boiled with rushes to dye them yellow
(the rushes are woven into mats) (4).
The Black-Eyed Susan is used by the Shuswap Indians to
help with sore eyes and is used by the Seminole Indians to treat fevers
and headaches (4).
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Fascinating
Facts
The name Rudbeckia comes from Olaus Olai Rudbeck a 18th century
Swedish botanist (5).
The Black-eyed Susan is the gold medal winner
for the 2003
fleuroselect trials throughout Europe (7).
In 1918, the Black-eyed Susan became
Maryland's state flower. When the actual flower can't be
used because it does not bloom in time for Preakness, yellow daisies are used with their centers coated with black shoe
polish (8).
Many species of butterflies are attracted to
the flowers (5).
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(10)
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Created by: Pam Frawley,
December 2002 |
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