- Black-eyed Susan is a wildflower native to North America. It grows in a clump about 2 feet tall. The plant has fuzzy stems and leaves and can be a reseeding annual or a perennial, depending on the climate and species. R. hirta is the official flower of Maryland and was named by Carl Linnaeus for Olav Rudbeck, a professor at the University of Uppsala. "Hirta" is Latin for "hairy."
- Rudbeckias thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Most bloom in mid- to late summer and make good cut flowers. They are drought-tolerant and can spread into large clumps, but be sure to water young plants deeply and regularly to establish a strong root system.
- Rudbeckia hirta comes in many popular varieties, including Indian Summer, which reaches 4 feet tall and produces masses of golden blooms; Cherry Brandy, which grows to 2 feet and has deep maroon petals; and Cherokee Sunset, with double orange and gold outer petals around deep maroon inner petals. It grows to 2 feet.
- Thunbergia alata is a tropical vine grown as an annual in U.S. gardens. It gets about 5 feet tall in a season, with twining stems and 2-inch-diameter blooms with a black eye. In its native Africa, it reaches 20 feet and is a perennial. It prefers full sun and regular water; it wilts quickly if dry. The name comes from Carl Thunberg, a student of Linnaeus', who explored southeastern Africa for plants.
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