Rudbeckia Hirta.  Black-eyed Susan is a biennial or a short-lived perennial that attains a height of one to three feet.  Throughout the summer it displays golden yellow flowers two to five inches across with a dark brown center.  In the botanical name, hirta, refers to the plant's hairy stem.  Plant in a sunny location in ordinary garden soil.

Sow seeds early for best results; germination will occur in two to three weeks.  Black-eyed Susan was growing in North America in 1714.

Heirloom seeds are collected from the gardens and grounds of George Washington's Mount Vernon and cleaned and packaged by hand.