Black-Eyed Susan in Zone 6a & 6b
Rudbeckia hirta
When to plant black-eyed susan in zone 6b
Zones 6a and 6b 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 7–Mar 14 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 4–Apr 11 |
| Estimated bloom | Jun 13–Jun 20 (~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 6's season
Zone 6b's frost-free window runs about 173 days, from April 25 to October 15. 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 →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews. See the sources cited on each item.
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 6b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Black-Eyed Susan in USDA zone 6b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
Save to Pinterest