Photo: b:User:SBJohnny, Public domain · source
Pruning guide · Perennial
Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba): when and how to prune
Rudbeckia triloba
Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba) is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | August–October |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba): when to prune it?
In February–March, before the new shoots start.
What else to prune in those months? March
Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba): how to prune it?
- Cut last year’s dead stems down to just above the ground.
- Leave some of the seedheads if you want it to self-seed.
- Cut faded flowers off in summer if you want to limit self-seeding; this also prolongs flowering.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba) flowers in August–October, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
Caution: It self-seeds freely. If you do not want that, cut the seedheads off in autumn and pull out seedlings in spring.
Nearby: related pruning guides
- Cutleaf coneflower
- Giant coneflower
- Sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa)
- Western coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis)
Plant profile: Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba) · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.