Close-up of Blackeyed Susan
The Black-eyed Susan, (Rudbeckia hirta), is one of the most common wildflowers in the US. The plants often grow up to 3 ft tall with leaves up to 6 in long. This photo was taken on a Thacher Nature Center trail.
These plants are biennial, living only two years. They flower in mid summer to mid October.
Insects like butterflies and bees feed on the nectar of the flowers while deer and rabbits eat the entire plant.
In the close-up of the flower, you can see the bristly hairs that cover the plant’s stem and the disk flowers that form the brown central cone.