Black-eyed Susan, also known as Rudbeckia, is a beautiful and hardy perennial plant that can easily reseed itself. This means that once you plant it in your garden, it has the potential to come back year after year without much effort on your part.
One of the reasons why black-eyed Susan is so popular among gardeners is because it readily self-seeds. After the flowers have bloomed and faded, it’s important to deadhead them by removing the spent flowers. This not only improves the appearance of the plant, but it also encourages more blooms to form. Deadheading prevents the plant from putting energy into producing seeds, which can reduce the amount of self-seeding that occurs.
However, if you want black-eyed Susan to reseed itself, you can let the last flowers of the season remain on the plants to form seed heads. These seed heads can provide a food source for birds during the winter months, adding an extra benefit to your garden. The seeds can also fall to the ground and germinate in the following spring, resulting in new plants.
I have personally experienced the self-seeding ability of black-eyed Susan in my own garden. I initially planted a few plants and over the years, they have multiplied and spread throughout the garden. It’s always a pleasant surprise to see new blooms popping up in unexpected places.
If you want to control the amount of self-seeding that occurs, you can manually collect the seeds before they fall to the ground. This can be done by cutting off the seed heads and placing them in a paper bag to dry. Once the seeds are dry, you can store them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to sow them or share them with other gardeners.
Black-eyed Susan is a plant that readily reseeds itself if the flowers are allowed to form seed heads. Regular deadheading can prolong the blooming period and prevent excessive self-seeding. However, if you enjoy the natural look and want to attract birds to your garden, leaving the seed heads can result in new plants and provide food for wildlife. It’s a versatile plant that can adapt to various garden styles and preferences.
