Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'

flower

Goldsturm is the benchmark black-eyed Susan, an award-winning selection of Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii that blankets compact 2 ft clumps in golden-yellow daisies with dark chocolate centers from midsummer to fall. A tough, long-lived native perennial for zones 3 to 9 that anchors pollinator and cottage borders and returns reliably each year.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Purple Coneflower — A native prairie partner that extends the pollinator buffet and bird seed source
• Yarrow — Draws hoverflies, lacewings, and parasitic wasps that control aphids
• Bee Balm — Brings in bees and hummingbirds while sharing the same conditions
• Salvia — Adds nectar for bees and butterflies across the same bloom season

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Septoria and angular leaf spot →

  Space for airflow, water at the base in the morning, and clear fallen debris each fall

• Aphids →

  Let resident ladybugs and lacewings build up and rinse heavy colonies off with water

• Powdery mildew →

  Site in full sun with good spacing and avoid wetting the foliage

🌸 Blooms & cutting

Cut stems when the flowers have just fully opened and the centers are still tight for the longest vase life, about 6 to 10 days. Regular cutting and deadheading prolong bloom; leave the final flush of seed heads standing to feed goldfinches and to self-sow.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

A pollinator powerhouse: the open daisy form feeds native bees, honeybees, and butterflies through late summer, and seed heads left standing feed goldfinches and other birds into winter. It is also a larval host for several butterfly and moth species.