Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' (Black-eyed Susan) care

Light

Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Flowers most prolifically in full sun (6+ hours daily). Tolerates partial shade but produces fewer flowers and stems that may require staking. Best in an open, sunny border or prairie-style planting. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.

Watering

Water black-eyed susan 'goldsturm' when the top 4-5 cm of soil is dry; moderately drought-tolerant once established after the first full season. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Water regularly during the establishment year. Once settled, 'Goldsturm' tolerates dry periods well. In prolonged drought, watering at the base maintains good flowering. Avoid waterlogging, which causes crown rot.

Soil and pot

Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' grows best in moderately fertile, well-drained loam; tolerates a range of soils. Adapts to most garden soils from loam to clay, provided drainage is adequate. Tolerates slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5–7.0). Rich, wet soils cause lush leafy growth and disease. Lean, free-draining soils are preferred in humid climates. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' sits happiest at around 40-65% humidity and -30 to 35°C (-22 to 95°F). Tolerates a range of outdoor humidity. In high-humidity conditions, ensure good spacing (at least 45 cm) between plants for air circulation to reduce powdery mildew risk. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed black-eyed susan 'goldsturm' sparingly. Apply a balanced slow-release granular fertiliser in early spring. Avoid heavy nitrogen feeds which cause excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowers. In fertile garden soils, no additional feeding is typically necessary. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on black-eyed susan 'goldsturm' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Powdery mildew — White coating on lower leaves, particularly in dry conditions; improve air circulation and water at the base. 'Goldsturm' is relatively resistant compared to other Rudbeckia.
• Slugs on new growth — Young spring shoots are vulnerable; apply slug control early. Mature plants are less affected.
• Leaf spot — Angular brown spots from fungal leaf-spot pathogens in wet conditions; improve airflow and remove affected leaves.
• Clump decline — Centres of established clumps die out after 4-5 years; divide in spring to rejuvenate.
• Aphids — Occasional infestations on new growth; usually managed by natural predators without intervention.

Companion plants

Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' pairs well with Echinacea purpurea, Salvia nemorosa, Pennisetum alopecuroides, and Aster x frikartii. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Divide established clumps in spring every 3-4 years for best results. Can be grown from seed sown under glass in early spring; germination is reliable at 18-22°C and plants flower from their second year. Self-seeds freely in suitable conditions. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' is mildly toxic to pets. Rudbeckia fulgida is not individually listed by the ASPCA as toxic. The genus Rudbeckia is not confirmed ASPCA non-toxic; a conservative mildly-toxic rating is applied. Ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal irritation in pets. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of black-eyed susan 'goldsturm' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common black-eyed susan 'goldsturm' problems & fixes
• Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' watering schedule
• Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' light requirements
• Best soil mix for black-eyed susan 'goldsturm'
• Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' fertilizing guide
• When to repot black-eyed susan 'goldsturm'
• How to propagate black-eyed susan 'goldsturm'
• How to prune black-eyed susan 'goldsturm'
• What's eating my black-eyed susan 'goldsturm'?
• Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' growth rate & size
• Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' cold hardiness
• Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' temperature & humidity
• Is black-eyed susan 'goldsturm' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is black-eyed susan 'goldsturm' toxic to cats?
• Is black-eyed susan 'goldsturm' toxic to dogs?
• All 27 Rudbeckia varieties
• Getting black-eyed susan 'goldsturm' to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
• Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
• Browse all 30 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' is also known as Black-eyed Susan, Goldsturm Coneflower, and Orange Coneflower.

• Hosta 'Patriot' care — light, water and common problems
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• All 11687 plant care guides in the Growli library