Native Plants

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Wednesday - May 02, 2007

From: Robbinsville, NJ
Region: Northeast
Topic: Pruning, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Should black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta) plants be cut back
Answered by: Nan Hampton and Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

I have black-eyed susan plants that were beautiful last year and flowered for a long time. Do they need to be cut back and if so, how much?

ANSWER:

It isn't really necessary to cut back Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan); but if you will deadhead them (i.e., remove the fading flowers before they set seed), it will prolong their flowering period.

Rudbeckia hirta

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