Rudbeckia — 12 species

Rudbeckia encompasses roughly 25 species of sun-loving North American wildflowers — from the classic Indian Summer black-eyed Susan and Cutleaf coneflower to the perennial Sweet Black-Eyed Susan — prized for golden-yellow ray florets surrounding a dark central disc. They thrive in full sun (minimum six hours) and are highly drought-tolerant once established, requiring only occasional deep watering. Toxicity varies across the genus: sesquiterpene lactones present in some species can cause mild gastrointestinal irritation in cats and dogs, so check each species before buying and keep curious pets away from the garden bed.