Who could resist a garden full of these sun-kissed blooms? To ensure year-long cheer, grow these flowers that look like Black-Eyed Susans!
With fresh yellow petals and near-black centers, Rudbeckia hirta is a pioneer plant that blooms profusely from early summer to late fall. So, adding flowers that look like black-eyed Susans means you can enjoy golden abundance and a seamless line-up of cheery blossoms through the seasons.
It is resilient, easy to grow, vigorous, and hosts stunning pollinator species. And often, Rudbeckia lookalikes are just as adaptable and beautiful, joyfully livening up your patio, balcony, or garden bed while luring in butterflies and birds!
Flowers That Look Like Black-Eyed Susan
1. Yellow Coneflower
Botanical Name: Echinacea paradoxa
This daisy-like perennial plant also blooms from mid-summer to early fall, perfectly complementing its almost identical twin—the black-eyed susan. The main difference is in the egg-shaped central disk of coneflowers. It grows well in full to partial sun and average, well-draining, rocky soil, and you can use it for landscaping in many ways.
This native wildflower from North America also attracts crucial pollinators, such as native bees, butterflies, and birds like goldfinches, to the garden. Check out these varieties of coneflowers to find one that best suits you!
2. Sulfur Cosmos
Botanical Name: Cosmos sulphureus
Another self-seeder with origins in Mexico, Central, and South America, the yellow cosmos pairs well with black-eyed Susans and has a similar bloom time. Same but different is precisely how we can describe this flower, which has pinnately divided golden petals that look even more lush and layered than black-eyed Susans.
Relatively drought tolerant, cosmos flowers can also become invasive with neglect. But with the right care, its blooms attract honeybees, monarch and swallowtail butterflies, and hummingbirds, creating a rich ecosystem right in your backyard!
3. Gerbera Daisy
Botanical Name: Gerbera jamesonii
Spring and summer-blooming cheerful flowers in a wide range of hues, the gerbera daisy’s petals are only slightly longer than those of the black-eyed Susan. While both have showy, eye-catching blooms, gerbera daisies feature a yellow or green center in place of the black-eyed Susan’s dark center.
Perfect houseplants that grow well in containers, this SE African native prefers moist, well-draining soil rich in organic matter and dappled sunshine.
4. Calendula
Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis
This medicinal wonder herb also produces sunny yellow and orange blooms comparable to our black-eyed Susans, but it does so much more for your garden! It is super useful as a companion herb for veggies like tomatoes, asparagus, and brassicas, and it helps repel pests like aphids and whiteflies!
Thriving in cool weather, calendulas bloom from late fall through spring in warm climes and spring to fall in colder regions. So if you want to extend your black-eyed Susan aesthetics in your garden, this is your go-to!
5. Coreopsis
Botanical Name: Coreopsis spp.
Particular varieties such as Coreopsis tinctoria are utopian versions of what golden blooms should look like! Coreopsis has lance-shaped leaves, while black-eyed Susans’ are more oval-shaped if you’re looking to differentiate between the two. Flowering in early summer, with repeat blooms through fall, this plant thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade and poor soil.
Often featuring sumptuous sunny double flowers with daisy-like petals, this native plant attracts stunning pollinators like crescent and checkerspot butterflies and hummingbirds to its nectar-filled blooms.
6. Sunflowers
Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus
What sunburst bloom is more famous than the classic yellow sunflower? The larger varieties, with their massive flowerheads, can add so much life and drama to the garden! We think this bloom is a perfect substitute or addition to our petite Rudbeckias.
With deep roots that help break up compacted soil, sunflowers pair well with other tall plants like coneflowers and provide contrast with the smaller, compact form of black-eyed Susans.
7. Zinnias
Botanical Name: Zinnia elegans
Blooming from summer all the way till frost, bushy zinnias can swoop in to add warm sunny hues even as our black-eyed Susans fade. Check out explosive cultivars with crested flowerheads like Zinderella Yellow for abundance. These flowers also pair well with other summer blooms like cosmos and sunflowers but extend into cooler months.
Zinnias hate wet feet and thrive in well-draining, compost-rich soil, and full sun, much like Rudbeckias. Now, if you seek blooms that resemble zinnias, check out this article!
8. African Daisy
Botanical Name: Osteopermum ‘Bright Lights Yellow’
With a longer blooming period from spring to fall, African daisies are more delicate, with slender petals, but highly similar to black-eyed Susans in terms of looks and growing needs. Perfect for planting indoors or on a balcony, this South African plant has a more compact form and isn’t invasive.
Thriving in full sun, bring it inside in winter, and remember to prune these yellow delights for better blooms!
9. False Sunflower
Botanical Name: Heliopsis helianthoides
The name, of course, tells you a lot about the flower. It surely resembles sunflowers and, consequently, black-eyed Susans as well. Its petals are a deeper, truer yellow, and this one has a slightly reddish-brown center. With overlapping flowering times, false sunflowers are the earliest blooming sunflowers.
Blooms can sometimes extend into late fall, ensuring a steady supply of floral sunshine in your garden! These adapt to various soil types, including clay and sandy soils, and prefer full sun.
10. Blanket Flower
Botanical Name: Gaillardia spp.
Often appearing in maroon and gold, blanket flowers are great companions to black-eyed Susans due to aesthetics and similar growing requirements, however, they love more warm surrounding and bloom better in USDA Zones 9-11.
With an extended bloom period, varieties like Arizona Sun and Goblin pair well with other sun-loving blooms on this list with no extra effort! Drought tolerant once established, it prefers full sun and doesn’t mind poor soil conditions.
Even if you cannot get your hands on the pretty black-eyed Susan, you can still adorn your garden with flowers that look like it!
