How and When to Cut Back Black-Eyed Susans – Get the Timing Right for Gorgeous Flowers Next Year

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.) is a popular native perennial, loved for its cheerful, daisy-like flowers with bright yellow petals and contrasting dark centers. As a native flower, this perennial is generally easy to grow, especially once established in the right conditions

One aspect of black-eyed Susan care that can be confusing for gardeners is pruning. Should you deadhead the flowers? Should you cut plants back all the way in winter? How do you trim black-eyed Susans? The answers to these questions, and more, depend on your goals, the time of year, and the types of Rudbeckia.

In our expert guide, we explain when and how to trim and prune black-eyed Susan and answer gardeners’ most frequently asked questions. Careful and timely pruning will keep your plants healthy and coming back year after year.

When to Cut Back Black-Eyed Susans

The timing for pruning black-eyed Susan depends on the reason for doing so. There are a few opportunities throughout the year:

• Summer. Deadhead spent flowers to keep plants blooming for longer.
• Fall. Remove diseased and damaged plant material, but consider leaving healthy stems and seedheads in place to feed wildlife.
• Spring. Cut back the older plant material to make room for new growth.

Even within these parameters, gardeners have some wiggle room. You don’t have to deadhead, for instance. You also don’t have to cut back healthy plants just because the growing season has come to an end.

How to Cut Back Black-Eyed Susans

Exactly how you’ll cut back your plants depends on the specific task, but these are general best practices for routine pruning:

• Always use sharp, clean shears. Felco's F6 Pruning Shears were rated best pruners in our testing, but Fiskars' Bypass Pruning Shears are a reliable budget-friendly pick.
• Follow the flower stem down to a healthy leaf, a side shoot, or the base of the plant to make your cut.
• When removing flowers, make a clean cut just above a healthy leaf node or branching bud.
• Remove dead or broken stems at the base.

Trim off any diseased-looking plant material whenever you see it and dispose of it in the waste, not compost.

Deadheading Black-Eyed Susans in Summer and Early Fall

Deadheading is one of the most useful pruning chores gardeners have at their disposal. Selective removal of spent flowers keeps perennials like black-eyed Susans flowering until seasonal and weather changes start to trigger dormancy.

Remove spent flowers once the petals fade and drop off, or whenever they no longer look tidy or at their peak. Cut the stem under the flower back to the next healthy leaf or side bud.

You can also accompany summer deadheading with a light overall trim if the plant is looking leggy. Trim stems back to side buds or the base, but do so carefully and selectively. Avoid heavy pruning in summer.

Should You Cut Back Black-Eyed Susans in Fall?

As long as the plant looks healthy, you can keep your black-eyed Susan standing in fall and through winter. The standing seedheads provide valuable food for birds in winter and offer some visual interest in winter beds. The plants also provide shelter for beneficial insects.

If your plants don’t look healthy, for instance if you see signs of fungal disease, it’s best to cut them back. Cut all the stems and foliage back to the ground and dispose of it. Don’t put it in the compost pile, as this can spread disease.

You can also cut back plants if you prefer a tidier appearance in winter. This can also help you prevent self-seeding if you don’t want your black-eyed Susans to spread.

Do Different Types of Black-Eyed Susan Need Different Pruning?

Pruning needs are generally similar across types, but there are a few considerations for different black-eyed Susans:

• Rudbeckia fulgida. Also known as orange coneflower, this type is a dependable perennial that readily forms big clumps. You can follow the above guidelines for this species, deadheading in summer, and leaving seedheads in place for winter.
• Rudbeckia hirta. This is the species most often referred to when using the term black-eyed Susan. It is a short-lived perennial that readily self-seeds. If you don’t want it spreading throughout beds, it’s best to deadhead and cut seedheads back before winter.
• Rudbeckia triloba. Brown-eyed Susan is another shorter-lived perennial that re-seeds readily. Whether or not you deadhead and trim back depends on whether you want to fill out your bed with more plants.

Garden Trimming Essentials

Frequently Asked Questions