Black-Eyed Susan in Zone 5a & 5b
Rudbeckia hirta
Yes, black-eyed Susan grows in zones 5a and 5b. Start seeds indoors Mar 22–Mar 29 and plant out Apr 19–Apr 26.
When to plant black-eyed Susan in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Mar 22–Mar 29 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 19–Apr 26 |
| Estimated bloom | Jun 28–Jul 5 (~70 days after planting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of black-eyed Susan in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Clarkia (Farewell-to-Spring)Apr 19–Apr 26
- Cynoglossum (Chinese Forget-Me-Not)Apr 19–Apr 26
- Phacelia (Lacy Phacelia)Apr 19–Apr 26
- Purple ConeflowerApr 19–Apr 26
- Saponaria (Soapwort)Apr 19–Apr 26
- Shasta DaisyApr 19–Apr 26
Black-eyed Susan is one of the few flowers that rewards low effort in a way that feels almost unfair. Sow it, keep it in the sun, ignore it. It germinates readily, flowers in its first summer, and carries on through drought and heat that has the rest of the border sulking, standing 2 to 3 feet tall with the classic golden-yellow daisy petals ringing a raised, dark brown-black center.
How black-eyed Susan fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Black-eyed Susan needs about 70 days from sowing to first bloom.
Black-Eyed Susan planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 1–Apr 8 | Apr 29–May 6 | Jul 8–Jul 15 |
| 3a & 3b | Apr 11–Apr 18 | May 9–May 16 | Jul 18–Jul 25 |
| 4a & 4b | Mar 27–Apr 3 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 3–Jul 10 |
| 5a & 5b (your zone) | Mar 22–Mar 29 | Apr 19–Apr 26 | Jun 28–Jul 5 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 7–Mar 14 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | Jun 13–Jun 20 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 20–Feb 27 | Mar 20–Mar 27 | May 29–Jun 5 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 4–Feb 11 | Mar 4–Mar 11 | May 13–May 20 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 28–Jan 4 | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Apr 5–Apr 12 |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Aug–Jan | Oct–Mar | ~70 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11b | Nov 13–Nov 20 | Dec 11–Dec 18 | Feb 19–Feb 26 |
Bloom dates are about 70 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for black-eyed Susan.
Where to buy black-eyed Susan seeds
Botanical Interests (each supplier's black-eyed Susan seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- 'Indian Summer': Enormous flowers, six to nine inches across, among the largest of any Rudbeckia. Buy: Botanical Interests Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing black-eyed Susan" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Black-Eyed Susan in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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