Get It Growing: Rudeckia is resilient and beautiful in the garden

When LSU AgCenter horticulturists sit down to choose plants worthy of induction into the Louisiana Super Plant program, their goal is to identify contenders that are tough enough to handle our challenging growing conditions — and still look good doing it.
That combination is a tall order. But it’s no problem for rudbeckia fulgida, a 2026 Super Plant selection.
Also known as black-eyed Susan, this plant blooms from late May until fall. You can’t help but smile when you see its sunny, daisy-like flowers with golden-yellow rays and dark centers.
Rudbeckia fulgida has smoother leaves than other rudbeckia species, which tend to have hairy leaves. Many of these species sport larger blooms, but unfortunately, they are prone to rotting in our rainy summers.
By contrast, rudbeckia fulgida is native to the southeastern United States and well adapted to Louisiana’s climate. This species is easy to grow and drought tolerant once established.
Although rudbeckia is in full bloom right now, planting during summer can be challenging unless you are willing to keep it well watered through establishment. If you can wait, plant when temperatures are cooler in the fall or next spring for the best results. Give it full sun and decent drainage, and this plant will reward you with dense clumps of bright, cheery flowers come summertime.
You’ll be doing a good thing for wildlife and the environment, too: Rudbeckia’s seeds are nutritious for birds, and the flowers provide nectar for pollinators.
Rudbeckia is versatile in the landscape, working well as a border plant, in beds and in containers. Its foliage often stays attractive into the winter, lending color to the landscape when many plants are dormant.
As a perennial, rudbeckia can be enjoyed for many years to come. It spreads gradually via underground rhizomes, and clumps can be divided in fall or spring.
The AgCenter picked two rudbeckia fulgida cultivars to share the Super Plant title: Goldsturm and Early Bird Gold.
Goldsturm, which was introduced by German nurseryman Karl Foerster in 1937, can reach 24 to 36 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. Like most rudbeckias, it is influenced by day length and is triggered to flower when the long days of summer arrive.
But Early Bird Gold, which was found in 2005 at Dupont Nursery in Louisiana, is day-neutral — so it starts blooming a bit earlier and continues longer than other cultivars. It’s also shorter, topping out at 18 to 24 inches tall.