Two of the most common species in the genus areRudbeckia hirta,often known as black-eyed Susan, andR.

triloba, commonly calledbrown-eyed Susan.

These two species are often confused with one another.

Black-eyed Susans with brown centers and yellow petals

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

However, black-eyed Susans are larger and have more petals than brown-eyed Susans.

There are some additional rudbeckia varieties that are also common garden plants.

Gardening Tip

Mostrudbeckiasare short-lived perennials that may die out after just a couple of years.

‘Indian Summer’ rudbeckias with yellow petals and brown centers

National Garden Bureau

hirta.Interest in this cultivar exploded after the All-America Selections named it a 1995 winner.

Although your original plants may not return, self-seeding will refill the flowerbed for the following season.

Plant the flowers in full sun in medium moisture, well-drained soil.

‘Prairie Center’ rudbeckia with green centers and gold petals

Ralf Liebhold / Getty Images

Burgundy and orange flower petals provide the rich jewel tones that accent classicfall flowerarrangements.

The ‘Moreno’ variety blooms from June to the first frost.

It tolerates heat, drought, and nearly all conditions except poorly drained, wet soil.

‘Moreno’ rudbeckia with burgundy and orange radiating flowers

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

The flowers self-seed easily.

This is a black-eyed Susan without black eyes: The centers of the blooms are greenish-yellow.

It’s a bit less drought tolerant than otherR.

‘Irish Eyes’ rudbeckia plant with golden yellow flowers and greenish-yellow centers

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

The semi-double to fully double blooms aredeer-resistantand attract pollinating insects, butterflies, and birds.

Like other rudbeckiavarieties, it self-seeds.

In 2002, ‘Cherokee Sunset’ won the All-American Selections and Fleuroselect award.

‘Cherokee Sunset’ rudbeckia plant with orange-red double blooms on thin stems

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

It thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant once established.

The plant blooms profusely from early summer to the first frost.

‘Maya’ thrives in full sun and well-drained, medium-moisture soil.

‘Maya’ rudbeckia with yellow frilly petals and brown centers

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Once established, the plant is drought-tolerant.

The casual form of these tall plants looks great swaying in the breeze alongside ornamental grasses orVerbenabonariensis.

It’s an incredibly easy flower to grow and blooms from mid-summer to the first frost.

‘Prairie Glow’ rudbeckias with brown centers and yellow-tipped orange petals

National Garden Bureau

The blooms of this rudbeckia jot down are a vibrant reddish-maroon.

Take advantage of these attention-grabbers by pairing them with the contrasting colors of the ‘Irish Eyes’ variety.

‘Cherry Brandy’ will bloom continually throughout the summer.

‘Cherry Brandy’ rudbeckia plant with red daisy-like flowers on thin stems

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

For more profuse blossoms, deadhead regularly.

This plant needs weekly watering and is not quite as tolerant of drought as other varieties.

A must in any cottage garden, giant coneflower tolerates a wide range of growing conditions.

Giant coneflowers with yellow petals and green centers

Margrit Salzmann / EyeEm / Getty Images

But it needs plenty of water and doesn’t have great drought tolerance.