perennial

Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm'

Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'

Preview: plant data is awaiting horticulturist review. A professional horticulturist hasn't reviewed our plant table yet. Lists still follow fixed rules for zone, sun, pets, deer and invasive status.

Hardy in zones 4–9, Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' is a fast-growing perennial. It grows 2–3 ft tall and 1.5–2 ft wide, so plant it 1.5 ft apart. Give it full sun to part sun and average water. It flowers yellow in July to October. In a FloraVista list it usually plays the filler role: a flowering plant that fills the middle or front of the bed. It is native to the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest and the Southeast. Deer may browse it when other food is short, and it is toxic to dogs and cats.

Facts from our plant table

Botanical name: Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'
Plant type: Perennial, herbaceous
Hardiness zones: 4 to 9
Sun: Full sun (6+ hours); Part sun (4–6 hours)
Water: Medium
Soil: Adapts to most soils including clay.
Mature size: 2–3 ft tall × 1.5–2 ft wide
Spacing: 1.5 ft apart (centre to centre)
Growth rate: Fast
Bloom: Jul–Oct · yellow
Roles in a bed: Filler
Styles: natural, cottage, classic
Deer resistance: Medium: browsed when deer are hungry
Pets: Toxic to dogs and cats. Not on the ASPCA list; some sources report mild stomach upset in cats. Marked toxic as a precaution.
Native to: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southeast
Pot size and price: 1-gallon pot, typically $10–$18 (easy to find)
Plant in: Spring or Fall
First-year watering: Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season; keep soil evenly moist, not soggy.
Pruning: Leave seed heads for winter birds; cut down in late winter.

Sources: ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List (from general knowledge; not re-checked unless verification is web-checked); Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder and grower tags; State extension service guidance and USDA PLANTS distribution maps; Rutgers NJAES Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance; Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States and state noxious weed lists; Typical 2026 US garden-centre and big-box retail listings (estimate). Not yet reviewed by a horticulturist.

Guides that include this plant

What to plant in a full-sun bed in zone 5 (as a substitute)
What to plant in a full-sun bed in zone 8
Cottage garden plants for a sunny bed in zone 5
Natural-style plants for a sunny bed in zone 4 (as a substitute)
Natural-style plants for a sunny bed in zone 7 (as a substitute)

Good companions

The plants our list engine most often puts in the same bed as Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm', across the sun, zone, pet, deer and style combinations it fits.

If you can't find it

Substitutes our engine offers for Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm': same role in the bed, passing the same rules.

How this page was made

This page was generated from this plant's record in FloraVista's plant table by fixed rules. The companions and substitutes come from the lists our rules engine composes. No named expert has reviewed this page.

Data status: the plant table is awaiting review by a horticulturist. Check each plant with a local nursery or extension office before you buy.

Sources

Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, state extension services and the USDA PLANTS database (zones, size, sun, water, bloom, native range)
ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists (dog and cat toxicity)
Rutgers NJAES and regional extension deer-resistance ratings
State noxious-weed and invasive-plant lists and the Invasive Plant Atlas of the US
Typical US garden-centre listings (pot size and price band)

Generated November 12, 2026. How FloraVista chooses plants