|                    Blackeyed susan
                      |  
              
                |                    Rudbeckia hirta  
                      |  
              
                |                    Asteraceae 
                      |  
  
              
                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Wildflower gardens. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Widely available in central Florida. Commonly available at native plant nurseries in South Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida. | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Medium short-lived herbaceous wildflower. | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
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                 Typically 1-3 feet in height.  Usually taller than broad. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Moderate. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
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                 Widespread in North America south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties, but very rare in Broward and either very rare or extirpated in the wild in Miami-Dade. Not documented on barrier islands in southeastern Florida, but possibly historically present; it grows well at Pan’s Garden in Palm Beach. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
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                 Pinelands. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
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                 Moist to seasonally wet, moderately well-drained sandy or limestone soils, without humus. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 High; does not require any supplemental water once established. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Full sun. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Yellow and brown. | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Showy. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Summer-fall. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 Inconspicuous achene. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
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                 Provides nectar for pollinators. Attracts native bees and other beneficial insects. Provides seeds and insects for birds. | 
               
                     
                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                 Can be grown from seed. | 
               
              
                | Comments: | 
               
              
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                 See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's  Flower Friday page, and 2-page publication on  planting and care of Rudbeckias in landscapes page. | 
               
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