Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) belongs to the wide variety of the Rudbeckia genus. Black-eyed Susan is the most commonly known Rudbeckia and is native to the central United States. This herbaceous perennial is hardy to zones 3-7 and grows 2-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide.
Black-eyed Susan is a compact and fast-growing wildflower with scratchy, hairy foliage. In summer, butter-yellow, daisy-like flowers adorned with chocolate-brown cones are borne atop their branching stems.
Black-eyed Susan is easy to establish and requires little maintenance. Black-eyes Susan thrives in full sun but can survive in partial shade. Black-eyed Susan prefers moist to dry, well-draining soil that isn’t too rich. Black-eyed Susan is relatively drought-resistant once established; weekly watering is sufficient to keep these beautiful blooms happy.
Black-eyed Susan is used as a diuretic to strengthen the immune system and to treat flu and colds.
Related: Types of Flowers by Alphabet
Blanket Flower
Gaillardia x Grandiflora, also known as blanket flower, is a short-lived perennial native to North America. Blanket flower is hardy to zones 3-10 depending on the variety and grows 12-18 inches tall with a 12–24-inch spread.
Blanket flower is a repeat bloomer blooming from summer through fall with attractive grey-green foliage and mounds of beautiful, daisy-like flowers in various shades of red, bright oranges, vibrant yellow, and peach.
Blanket flowers thrive in full sun and any well-draining soil other than clay. Once established, blanket flowers are extremely drought tolerant and can go without watering unless exposed to extremely dry and hot conditions.
Similar to the Black-eyed Susan, blanket flowers are used as a diuretic.
Shasta Daisy
Leucanthemum x Superbum is a free-flowering herbaceous perennial native to Europe and naturalized through North America. The Shasta daisy is hardy to zones 5-9 and grows 3-4 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide.
Shasta daisies are valued for their abundant floral displays. These summer bloomers produce a sea of large, snow-white, single daisy flowers with golden-centered disks borne atop basal rosettes of leathery, deep green leaves.
Shasta daisies thrive in full sun; however, partial shade is beneficial in scorching conditions. Shasta daisies thrive in any well-draining soil. Shasta daisies are fairly drought tolerant and have low to moderate water requirements. They only need to be watered during prolonged periods of drought.
Shasta daisies have similar bloom times and sun and soil requirements as Black-eyes Susan.
Shasta daisy tea treats coughs, bronchitis, and liver-and-kidney disorder.
Cosmos
Cosmos sulphureus is a tuberous perennial native to South America, Central America, and North America. Cosmos plants have a hardiness zone of 2-11 and mature to 1-6 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide.
Cosmos is a freely flowering annual with gorgeous green, fern-like foliage that boasts white, bright pink, purple, yellow to tangerine, and red to velvety chocolate flowers with rounded petals during summer and through fall.
Cosmos thrives in full sun with rich, well-draining soil. Deeply watering cosmos once a week is sufficient to keep them thriving.
Cosmos has similar sun and water requirements to Black-eyed Susan.
Cosmos is an ornamental flower and an excellent cut flower.
African Marigolds
Tagetes erecta is a bushy annual flower native to the Americas. African marigolds grow in hardy zones of 2-11 and mature to 1-4 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide.
African marigold is a cheerful and compact annual with pinnate leaflets. It boasts huge double flowers that resemble daisies in white, yellow, and orange shades from early summer until frost. Marigolds’ saffron-hued faces are often compared to the sun.
African marigolds thrive in full sun and in a variety of evenly moist, well-draining soil. Therefore, African marigold needs regular watering (at least once per week).
African marigolds are used as diuretics, similar to Black-eyes Susan.
Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus is an annual flowering plant native to North America. Common sunflowers are true annuals, hardy to all zones. However, they have different growth habits; they typically grow anything from 3-10 feet tall.
Common sunflowers typically grow during summer to early fall. Sunflowers have broad oval to heart-shaped hairy leaves and large single flowerheads that resemble a brilliant sunset. Common sunflowers are available in bright yellow, orange, red, mahogany, or brown colors.
Common sunflowers thrive in full sun and dry to average moisture, well-drained soil. Water commonly sunflowers weekly.
Common sunflowers seeds are mainly used for bird food and to make sunflower oil.
Zinnias
Zinnia Elegans are gorgeous shrubs native to South America, Mexico, and the southwestern United States. Zinnias are grown as annuals in hardy zones of 2-8 and as perennials in hardy zones of 9-11. Zinnias mature to 1-4 feet tall and 12-18 inches wide.
Zinnias have rough, lance-shaped leaves and produce beautiful flowers in late spring to first frost. Zinnia has long, sturdy stems and blooms with double, fully rounded flowers packed with petals in striking snow-white, pink, coral, lavender purple, bright yellow, orange, red, and green colors.
Zinnias boost prolific blooms when planted in full sunlight and well-draining soil. In addition, zinnia is a drought-tolerant plant that needs occasional watering.
Zinnias and Black-eyed Susan have similar sun and soil preferences.
Zinnias are ornamental flowers.
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae is an herbaceous perennial native to eastern North America. New England asters grow in a hardy zone of 4-8 and mature to 3-6 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide.
New England asters is a bushy, compact perennial. It creates a gorgeous display of lilac-blue, purple, or pink star-shaped flowers with golden button centers from summer to fall.
New England asters thrive in full sun and average, medium moisture, and well-drained soil. New England asters need a base-watering of approximately one inch per week.
Asters have similar sun, soil, and water requirements as Black-eyes Susan.
New England aster is said to be decongesting, antispasmodic, and relaxing to the lungs. It is particularly useful for seasonal allergies or colds.
Bachelor Buttons
Centaurea Montana is a popular perennial native to Europe. Bachelor buttons are hardy to zones 3-8 and grow 1-2 feet tall and 12-18 inches wide.
Bachelor buttons are clump-forming plants with silvery-green lance-shaped foliage. From late spring to early summer and then again from late summer to fall, bachelor buttons showcase vivid, rich blue fringed flowers.
Bachelor buttons boost prolific blooms when planted in full sunlight and dry to medium moisture, well-draining soil. In addition, bachelor buttons are a drought-tolerant plant that needs occasional watering.
Bachelor buttons have similar sun and soil requirements to Black-eyed Susan.
English button (cornflower) tea treats fever, chest congestion, constipation, and water retention.
Tickseed
Coreopsis verticillate ‘Moonbeam,’ commonly known as tickseed, is a member of the aster family and is native to North America. Tickseed is an herbaceous perennial hardy to zones 3-9 and grows 1,5-2 feet tall with a similar spread.
Tickseed is a hardy and eye-catching flower that is valued for its long blooming period. From early summer to fall, tickseed produces gorgeous, butter-yellow daisy-like flowers upon neat, fern-like foliage.
Tickseed thrives in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Tickseed thrives in a variety of well-draining soil. Tickseed is drought tolerant; weekly watering is sufficient.
Tickseed and Black-eyed Susan have similar sun, soil, and watering preferences.
Root tea is made from tickseed to treat diarrhea.
Daydream Coneflower
Echinacea’ Daydream’ is a perennial native to North America. Daydream coneflowers grow in hardy zones of 4-10 and mature to 1-2 feet tall and wide.
Daydream coneflowers have an upright habit with dark green foliage and slender toothless leaves. Daydream coneflowers bloom from early to late summer, showcasing prominent central cones and thin, drooping pale yellow flower petals.
Daydream coneflowers bloom flowers prolifically when planted in full sunlight and well-draining soil that isn’t too rich. Daydream coneflowers are tolerant to almost everything; however, weekly watering is sufficient.
Daydream coneflowers and Black-eyed Susan have similar flowers as well as sun, soil, and water requirements.
Daydream coneflowers are used to treat wounds and infections.
Threadleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis Verticillata is a rhizomatous perennial native to eastern North America. Threadleaf coreopsis has a hardy zone of 5-9 and grows 1-2 feet tall.
Threadleaf coreopsis has slender stems and delicate, dark-green foliage divided into thread-like segments. In summer, they boast a profusion of yellow to golden showy flowers with untoothed petals.
Threadleaf coreopsis thrives in full sun and dry to medium, well-draining soil. Tickseed is drought tolerant after their first year, but they bloom most prolifically with regular watering.
Threadleaf and Black-eyed Susan have similar sun, soil, and water requirements.
Threadleaf is most common for ornamental purposes; however, it is also used to treat diarrhea, internal pain, and bleeding.
Mexican Hat
Ratibida columnifera is a perennial native to North America. Mexican hats grow in a hardy zone of 4-9 and mature to 3 feet tall and 18 inches wide.
Mexican hats are upright-forming perennials with slender stems and bright green deeply clefted foliage. Mexican hats bloom from late spring into fall, showcasing a profusion of golden-yellow or rusty-red drooping daisies with prominent central cones.
Mexican hats bloom flowers prolifically when planted in full sunlight and non-rich, loamy, or sandy, well-draining soil. Although Mexican hats have moderate water requirements, weekly watering is sufficient.
Mexican hats and Black-eyed Susan have similar sun and water requirements.
Mexican hats are used to brew tea to ease stomach pain and headaches. It is also used to treat poison ivy and snake bites.
Gerbera Daisy
Gerbera jamesonii is an herbaceous perennial native to South Africa. Gerbera daisies are hardy to zones 8-10 and grow 10-18 inches tall and 9-12 inches wide.
Gerbera daisies have pinnate or toothed foliage and upright stalks bearing vivid flowers with large flower heads and ray-like petals around a center disk of tiny black or green flowers from summer to fall.
Gerbera daisies love the sun but do not flourish in intense heat. So, plant them in full to partial sun, depending on your climate. Gerbera daisies prefer moist, well-drained soil and thrive effortlessly when given enough water- one inch of weekly watering will suffice.
Gerbera daisies and Black-eyed Susan have similar sun and water requirements.
Gerbera daisies are generally used as an ornamental flower for garden beds and bouquets, but they can be infused in a tea to treat bronchitis and coughs.
German Chamomile
Matricaria recutita is a unique annual herb native to Europe. German chamomile is hardy to zones 2-9 and grows 8-24 inches tall and 8-12 inches wide.
German chamomile is a unique herb boasting masses of aromatic foliage and daisy-like flowers throughout summer. Each flower features a yellow disk with 10-20 white rays of petals.
German chamomile blooms prolifically when planted in full sunlight and well-draining soil that isn’t too rich. In addition, German chamomile is drought tolerant once established; weekly watering is sufficient.
German chamomile has similar sun, soil, and water requirements to Black-eyed Susan.
German chamomile is used to make chamomile tea.
False Sunflower
Heliopsis Helianthoides gets its name from Helios- the Greek sun god; it has consequently been given its common name of false sunflower. The false sunflower is native to North America, grows in hardy zones of 3-9, and matures to 3-6 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide.
The false sunflower is an easy growing, short-lived perennial that from clumps of upright stiff-branched stems with ovate, toothed leaves. In midsummer, the false sunflower boasts vibrant yellow to orange, sunflower-like blooms.
The false sunflower thrives in full sun and will tolerate partial shade, but blooms will not be as prolific. The false sunflower thrives in average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining soil. Although the false sunflower is relatively drought-tolerant, they do best with weekly watering.
African Daisy
Osteospermum spp. is a gorgeous perennial native to Africa and Asia. African daisies grow in hardy zones of 9-11 and mature to sizes of 1-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide.
African daisies are bushy, evergreen, tender perennials with lance-shaped or broadly ovate foliage depending on the variety. African daisies bloom purple, pink, white, yellow, orange, or bicolored flowers with a long-lasting display from spring to fall.
African daisies bloom profusely in full sun and moist, well-draining soil. Although reasonably drought-tolerant once established, African daisies need at least 1 inch of water per week to thrive at their best.
African daisies and Black-eyed Susan have similar sun and water preferences.
African daisy tea treats coughs, bronchitis, and inflammation.
Ice Plant
Ice plants belong to the Delosperma spp. or Lampranthus spp. Genera. Ice plants are native to Africa, with hardy zones of 6-11 depending on the variety. Ice plants mature to 3-24 inches tall and 12-24 inches wide.
Ice plants have fleshly, succulent foliage with tiny hairs resembling ice crystals. The mat-forming ice plant showcases a profusion of pink, daisy-like blooms in pink, red, purple, yellow, and orange colors from spring to summer.
Ice plants thrive in full sun, be sure to provide them at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Ice plants thrive in dry, sandy well-draining soil. Ice plants can be watered sparingly; water them once every two weeks.
Similar to Black-eyed Susan, ice plants are used as a diuretic.
Angelonia
Angelonia Angustifolia is a tender perennial native to Mexico and the West Indies. Angelonia grows in hardy zones of 9-11 and mature to 18 inches tall.
Angelonia, also knowns as summer snapdragon, have flexible stems with narrow, pointed foliage. In summer, Angelonia boasts a profusion of showy spikes or gorgeous flowers in white and various shades of pink and purple. Their eye-catching blossoms have a grape scent and are rich in nectar.
Angelonia needs a full day of sun to continue blooming; however, they tolerate most well-draining soil types. Angelonia is a tough plant that will continue blooming during drought periods. Water them whenever the soil feels dry.
Angelonia and Black-eyed Susan have similar sun and soil requirements.
Angelonia is a lovely ornamental flowering plant that can also be used as an anti-inflammatory remedy.
Yellow Alyssum
Aurinia Saxatilis is an herbaceous perennial native to Asia and Europe. Sweet alyssum is hardy to zones 3-7 and matures 6-12 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide.
Yellow alyssum is an enchanting, evergreen with a spreading habit that produces attractive bluish-grey foliage and forms a carpet of petite yellow flowers during spring and fall.
Yellow alyssum plants thrive in full sun and prefer dry, sandy to average, well-draining soil. Yellow alyssum is hardy to heat and drought; in fact, overwatering can easily kill them. Only water them if you have extended drought periods.
Yellow alyssum and Black-eyed Susan have similar sun requirements.
Yellow alyssum is used to treat hiccups, mental illness, and rabies.
Golden Marguerite
Anthemis Tinctoria is a daisy-like perennial native to Europe. Golden Marguerite has a hardy zone of 3-7 and grows 2-3 feet tall and 1-2 inches wide.
Golden Marguerite is a vigorous plant perfect for a sunny border. It has finely textured foliage and a faint aroma similar to chamomile. In summer, golden Marguerite showcases masses of pale-yellow daisy-like flowers.
Golden Marguerite thrives in full sun, be sure to provide them at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Golden Marguerite also thrives in average to dry, well-draining soil. Golden Marguerite is an excellent choice for a forgetful waterer. They can be watered sparingly; water them once every two weeks.
Golden Marguerite is used as a treatment for whooping cough and asthma.
Sneezeweed
Helenium autumnale is a perennial flower native to the Americas. Sneezeweed is hardy to zones 3-8 and matures 3-5 feet tall.
Sneezeweed is a striking wildflower with stiff, upright stems and lance-shaped foliage. Sneezeweed has brilliant daisy-like blooms in golden-yellow, deep orange, coppery brown, and mahogany red colors that showcase in late summer to fall.
Sneezeweed flowers bloom prolifically when planted in full sunlight with at least 6 hours of sun each day and well-draining soil that isn’t clay. Unfortunately, Sneezeweed is not drought tolerant and needs regular watering to thrive.
Dried flowers have been used as a snuff to create a sneezing effect to relieve congestion and clear nasal passages during colds and respiratory infections, giving it its common name ‘Sneezeweed.’
Strawflower
Scientifically known as Xerochrysum Bracteatum, the Strawflower is native to Australia. It has a hardiness zone of 8-10 and matures to 2-3 feet tall and 6-18 inches wide.
Strawflowers are tender perennials that boast daisy-like flowers from spring to fall. The flowers are adorned with central yellow disks and glossy, stiff petal-like bracts in vibrant yellow, orange, red, white, and pink shades.
Strawflowers prefer temperatures of 60°F to 70°F. These plants thrive in full sun but are tolerant of part shade, and they grow in any well-drained soil type. Strawflowers are fairly drought-tolerant, but one inch of weekly watering will keep them blooming strong, healthy blooms.
Strawflowers and Black-eyed Susan have similar sun, soil, and water requirements.
Strawflowers are useful in skincare, aromatherapy, and as an anti-inflammatory oil.
Nippon Daisy
Nipponanthemum Nipponicum is an herbaceous perennial flower native to the coastal regions of Japan. The Nippon daisy is hardy to zones 5-9 and grows 18-36 inches tall with a similar spread.
The Nippon daisy has glossy, leathery, green foliage with snow-white petaled flower heads with green disk centers borne atop its long stalk during late summer to frost.
Nippon daisies thrive in full sun and average to dry, well-drained soil types. Nippon daisies are fairly drought-tolerant; water them during extended drought periods to keep them strong and healthy.
Nippon daisies and Black-eyed Susan have similar sun and soil requirements.
Nippon daisies are used as air purifiers.
Matilija Poppy
Romneya Coulteri is a tender rhizomatous perennial native to California and northern Mexico. Matilija poppies are hardy to zones 8-10 and grow between 6-10 feet tall.
Matilija poppies are spectacular shrub-like perennials with apricot-scented, large white flowers with a ball-shaped center of vibrant yellow stamens. Each flower’s petals have a delicate, wrinkly, crepe-paper texture, somewhat resembling a large fried egg.
Matilija poppies thrive in full sun and are tolerant of all well-draining soil types. In addition, Matilija poppies are fairly drought-tolerant; water them once a week.
Matilija poppy plant was medicinally used to treat skin and gum problems as well as an upset stomach.
Knautia
Knautia Macedonica is an herbaceous perennial native to central Europe. Knautia is hardy to zones 5-9 and grows 1-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide.
Knautia has slender; tall branching stems with green, barely lobed basal foliage. From summer to fall, Knautia produces crimson pincushion flowers atop its branching stems.
Knautia thrives in full sun and moderately fertile, well-drained soil types. Although, Knautia is a drought-tolerant plant, keep your water schedule to a minimum to prevent drowning the plant. Only water them once the soil is arid.
Knautia has similar sun preferences to Black-eyed Susan flowers.
Similar to the Black-eyed Susan, Knautia is used as a diuretic.
References:
The Spruce: Gardening
