Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa 'Viette's Little Suzy'
little suzy black-eyed susan
Garden selection; species native to eastern North America; selected by Andre Viette
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa spp. 'Viette's Little Suzy' is a very compact black-eyed Susan in the R. fulgida complex, growing just 12–18 inches (30–45 cm) tall and wide — roughly half the height of standard 'Goldsturm' (24–30 inches / 60–75 cm). Golden-yellow daisy flowers 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) across with dark brown-black central cones appear from July through October — the same 10+ week bloom season as taller varieties but at half the height. Selected by Andre Viette at the Viette Nursery in Virginia, this cultivar fills the niche for a front-of-border or container-sized rudbeckia. The clumping habit is well-behaved — no aggressive stoloniferous spread. The compact stature eliminates the need for staking or pinching. Dark green rough-textured foliage. Dark seed cones persist through winter for goldfinch food. Tolerates clay, drought, and heat. Deer generally avoid the rough foliage.
Native Range
The species Rudbeckia fulgida is native to eastern North America. 'Viette''s Little Suzy' was selected by Andre Viette at Viette Nursery, Virginia.Suggested Uses
Used at the front of borders, in small gardens, and in containers of 3 gallons (11 L) or more. The smallest R. fulgida for tight spaces. The long bloom season gives 10+ weeks of golden summer-to-fall color at container scale.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 1'6"
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Golden-yellow ray florets with a dark brown-black central coneFoliage Description
Dark green, ovate, rough-texturedGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Average to moist soil; tolerates clay. No fertilization is needed. Stems can be left standing through winter. Cut to ground in early spring.Pruning
Cut all stems to ground in late February–March. No staking or pinching needed at this compact size.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons