Black-Eyed Susan in Zone 5a & 5b
Rudbeckia hirta
When to plant black-eyed susan in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Black-Eyed Susan tolerates either.
| 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.
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 harvest.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Black-Eyed Susan.
Where to buy black-eyed susan seeds
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 · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · 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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