Black-eyed Susan

Flowering heads have a central cluster of purple disc flowers, surrounded by 8 to 20, yellow to slightly orange, ray flowers, having downward curving tips. Flowering heads are on long stems which branch from the main stem. The leaves, stems, and bracts are densely hairy. Leaves occur individually on the stem, and attach either by winged petioles, or directly, without petioles. Leaves are narrowly to somewhat broadly lance-shaped, and usually have shallow teeth spaced 0.25 to 1.0 cm apart.The plant is waist high or less, and blooms from June through September in fields, prairies, and prairie plantings. This species differs from Rudbeckia triloba by having larger flowering heads, and occurring in sunny rather than shady places. Native to N. A.