Rudbeckia hirta

Black-eyed Susan, Brown-eyed Susan, Yellow Ox-eye Daisy

Message of the Flower

First Turning of the Vital towards the Divine

The Mother’s Comment

The vital prepares itself to be transformed.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

The lower vital aspires by offering all its small movements in the fire of purification, by calling for the light and power to descend into it and rid it of its little greeds, jealousies, resistances and revolts over small matters, angers, vanities, sexualities etc. to be replaced by the right movements governed by selflessness, purity, obedience to the urge of the Divine Force in all things.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - IV: The Lower Vital Being

Colour

bright yellow to orange-yellow petals with a dark brown or black center.

Family

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Cultivars

Becky Mixed', 'Cherokee Sunset', 'Cherry Brandy', 'Denver Daisy', 'Glitters Like Gold', 'Indian Summer', 'Irish Eyes', 'Prairie Sun', 'Rustic Dwarfs Mixed', 'Sonora', 'Tiger Eye Gold', 'Toto'.

Person who named the flower

The genus Rudbeckia was named in honor of Olof Rudbeck the Younger and his father Olof Rudbeck the Elder, both Swedish botanists and professors.

Flower Size

Medium-sized, about 2-4 inches in diameter.

Flower Texture

smooth texture.

Number of Petals

8-15 petals.

Floral Symmetry

Radial

Fragrance of Flower

not strongly scented

Leaf Texture

hairy or rough to the touch

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Color

Dark green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

herbaceous perennial.

Life Cycle

Usually a biennial or short-lived perennial.

Blooming Period

Summer to early fall.

Climate

well-adapted to temperate climates.

Water Requirements

Moderate water requirements

Soil Type

well-draining soil

Temperature Ranges

wide range of temperatures

Sun or Shade

full sun.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

pests and diseases, including aphids, mildew, and rust.

Pollinators

bees and butterflies

Habitat

meadows, prairies, and open woodlands

Ornamental

Widely grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and landscapes.

Endangered Status

Not considered endangered.