Edge/ Black-eyed Susan

COMMON NAME: Black-Eyed Susan

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Yellow Daisy, Brown-Betty, Bull’s-Eye, Poor Man’s Daisy, English-Bullseye. Golden-Jerusalem

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rudbeckia hirta

FAMILY: Asteraceae

COMMUNITY: Edge

STATUS: Native

LIFESPAN: Biennial or short-lived perennial

HEIGHT: 12 to 40 inches

FLOWERING TIME: Mid June to late October, most in July and August

FRUITING TIME: Late August to November

DISTRIBUTION: Newfoundland to Florida ~ Statewide in New Jersey ~ Grows in disturbed habitats

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Large flower heads, heads radiate, on stem ~ Flower petals yellow and center chocolate colored ~ Leaves hairy, simple, lower mostly elliptic others lance-linear to oblong

GENERAL INFORMATION: This large family (Asteraceae), commonly called the Aster Family, consists of 1,314 genera and 21,000 species of herbs, shrubs, climbers and a few trees is found chiefly in temperate and subtropical regions.  The plants are of value to man as ornamentals; a few are insecticides and fish poisons. The genus Rudbeckia mean “of  Rudbeck” and refers to Professor Olaf Rudbeck, 1630-1702 and his son, Professor Olaf Rudbeck, 1660-1740, of Uppsala, Sweden.  The name “Rudbeck” means rough. In 1720 John Gay wrote the ballad “Sweet William’s Farewell to Black-ey’d Susan” which begins: All in the Downs the fleet was moor’d, The Streamers waving in the wind, When black-ey’d Susan came aboard. ‘Oh! where shall I my true love find! Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true, If my sweet William sails among the Crew.”

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.