Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima
Black-eyed susan
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima (Black-eyed susan) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by distinctive dark purple disk flowers.
Black-eyed susan is a naturalized perennial herb found in central Sierra Nevada Foothills and Great Valley in meadows, fields, and roadsides at elevations of 100 to 1,200 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces yellow ray flowers with dark brown-purple disk centers spreading 2 to 4 centimeters wide. Growing 30 to 80 centimeters tall with stiffly hairy stems that are simple or few-branched toward the top, it develops an upright, robust form. Its leaves range 8 to 15 centimeters long, with lanceolate to elliptic blades that are entire or lightly serrated along the edges. The flower heads feature 8 to 16 yellow ray flowers surrounding a dark purple receptacle, creating a classic daisy-like appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive dark purple disk flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, fields, roadsides
Elevation: 100-1200 m
Outside California: United States, southern Canada, native in central United States, widely cultivated as ornamental
Bloom period
Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Encelia: Rudbeckia has a tall dark cone center; Encelia has tiny or absent ray petals and flat centers.; vs Helianthus: Rudbeckia has a tall dark cone-shaped center; Helianthus has a flat or gently rounded yellow center.; vs Helenium: Rudbeckia has a cone that starts flat-topped; Helenium has a round ball-shaped center from the start.; vs Ratibida: Rudbeckia fruits are smooth-edged; Ratibida fruits have hairy fringed edges.; vs Gazania: Rudbeckia has a tall cone center; Gazania has a flat center with distinctive dark markings at petal bases.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima native to California?
No. Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima bloom?
Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima belong to?
Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima is in the Asteraceae family, genus Rudbeckia.
What habitat does Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima grow in?
Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima grows in Meadows, fields, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.