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Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa 'Viette's Little Suzy' (Little Suzy Black-Eyed Susan)
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© Photo by David J. Stang, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA) · Wikimedia Commons
Perennials

Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa speciosa 'Viette's Little Suzy'

Little Suzy Black-Eyed Susan

Asteraceae
Garden selection; species native to eastern North America; selected by Andre Viette

At a Glance

TypePerennial
HabitClumping
FoliageDeciduous
Height12-18 inches (30-45 cm)
Width12-18 inches (30-45 cm)
Maturity2 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 9
Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Native to North America
Maintenancevery low

Overview

Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa '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

Identified by golden-yellow daisy flowers with dark cones on a very compact (12–18 inches / 30–45 cm) plant in the R. fulgida complex. The dwarf stature separates this from all other R. fulgida varieties. Clumping, non-spreading habit.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 1'6"
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow
gold

Foliage Colors

dark green

Fall Foliage Colors

brown

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks
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SummerFall
Flowering from July through October, approximately 10+ weeks. The same long bloom as taller varieties at compact scale.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Golden-yellow ray florets with a dark brown-black central cone

Foliage Description

Dark green, ovate, rough-textured

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full SunPartial Shade
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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamclay
Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

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

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early spring

Maintenance Level

very low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 3 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic