Black-eyed Susan Flower Symbolism Facts & Meaning: Zodiac, Superstitions, Dreams, and Legends
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Black-eyed Susan Flower Facts
Black-eyed Susan Flowers are eye-catching daisy-like flowers with brown, almost black center, and a single row of bright yellow petals. Its scientific name, Rudbeckia hirta, is named in honor of the Swedish botanist, Olof Rudbeck the Younger. Black-eyed Susan is native to central and eastern North America which now can be found across the world.
They are hardy plants with bright flowers and can tolerate rough conditions. The flowers bloom from June to September, serving as signifiers of the early fall season. It is an easy plant to care in gardens that thrives in well-drained soil and full sun. The flowers can grow up to four feet tall and grown in groups, attracting pollinators and birds.
Black-eyed Susan Flowers are wildflowers that can grow freely in sunny dry climates. These tough plants are also pioneer plants which means they are one of the first plants to grow in places where natural disaster occurs like wildfire. They serve as a host plant to the caterpillars of the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly.
Due to the plant’s prolific spread through its seed and pollinators, Black-eyed Susan Flowers are classified as a weed in some areas. On the other hand, they are also ideal plants to grow to combat soil erosion.
One last fun fact about the Black-eyed Susan Flower is that it is Maryland’s state flower since 1918.
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Black-eyed Susan Flower Uses
Black-eyed Susan Flowers have been used for their medicinal properties for years and it is a traditional medicinal plant used by Native Americans to cure different kinds of ailments.
The flower’s seeds are poisonous and should be avoided. The beneficial parts of the plant are its roots, leaves, and flowers. Native Americans historically used these parts of the plant to treat the flu, colds, earaches, and even snakebites. It has also been prepared to eliminate parasitic worms.
Scientific studies backed up these medicinal benefits of the Black-eyed Susan. Modern studies found that the extracts from the plant can stimulate the immune system, great for combating colds and influenza. Plus, it has antibacterial effects that combat germs that cause tuberculosis.
Like many abundant growing wildflowers, Black-eyed Susans are beneficial to the ecosystem since it provides nectar for pollinators like bees, as well as food for birds, rabbits, deers, and caterpillars. It provides shelter to small animals like slugs, snails, and many insects.
Other than their amazing medicinal properties, Black-eyed Susans are beneficial as garden plants, perfect for beginner gardeners as they require little to no care. They are also perfect as ornamental flowers for vases as the flowers can survive cut for six to ten days.
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Black-eyed Susan Flower History
The Black-eyed Susan is native to eastern and central North America and has been naturalized throughout most of North America. Many Native American tribes use the plants for their medicinal benefits to cure various ailments.
This wildflower is likely introduced to the British when they first came to the New World and brought it back to Europe where it was also naturalized. It was given the scientific name, Rudbeckia hirta, by Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus (the originator of the system of plant nomenclature), after his mentor Olof Rudbeck the Younger.
The name “Black-eyed Susan” most likely came from the Old English poem by John Gay, a popular poet, and dramatist from the late 1600s and early 1700s. It tells a story of Black-eyed Susan as she bids farewell to her lover, a sailor she calls Sweet William, about to sail to the New World.
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Black-eyed Susan Flower Positive Symbolism
There are several positive symbologies that the Black-eyed Susan Flower represents. The primary ones are justice, resiliency, and encouragement. These symbolisms are largely inspired by the flower’s striking colors. The bright yellow petals of the flowers encircling its dark brown center create the poetic image of light bringing justice to the darkness.
Black-eyed Susans came to represent resiliency and encouragement because of their adaptability and being able to survive just about anywhere, especially being one of the first plants to grow following disasters like fires.
They are also considered to be positive symbols of youth and childhood, often used to give people encouragement to keep their imaginative and whimsical sides alive.
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Black-eyed Susan Flower Negative Symbolism
There is little to no negative symbolism that Black-eyed Susan Flowers represent. However, they can be reminders to people to let go of bad habits whenever they are encountered.
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Black-eyed Susan Flower Cultural Symbolism
Native Americans have historically used Black-eyed Susans for medicinal purposes that are still used to this day by herbalists in the forms of tea and baths.
The Black-eyed Susan Flowers have long been a source of inspiration in the New World. In Maryland, the Black-eyed Susan is honored to symbolize greatness in the form of “The Black-eyed Susan Book” awards since 1992, an award given each year to quality contemporary literature for children, and the prestigious horse-race competition, Preakness Stakes, since 1873. It is also known as the “Run for the Black-eyed Susan” because the winning horse will have a blanket made out of the flower placed around its neck.
Lois Comfort Tiffany himself took inspiration from Black-eyed Susan Flowers and immortalized its image in one of his famous Tifanny Lamps.
Lastly, Black-eyed Susan Flowers are considered to be a symbol of the “American dream” because of their abundant growth along American roadsides, giving hope for an opportunity for all.
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Black-eyed Susan Flower Zodiac Sign
Known for its traits of ambition, tenacity, and passion, the zodiac sign Scorpio is greatly suitable with the Black-eyed Susan Flowers, flowers that can grow anywhere and can thrive in tough conditions.
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Black-eyed Susan Flower in Dreams
There are several meanings of Black-eyed Susans in dreams, depending on the context of the dream. For example, dreaming about a beautiful Black-eyed Susan means there is something the dreamer can celebrate or be proud of. Dreaming about a pink Black-eyed Susan means that the dreamer may not be fully expressing themselves; and dreaming about many Black-eyed Susans means that there may be issues about the dreamer’s sexuality or sexual relationships.
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Black-eyed Susan Flower Omens and Superstitions
There are no major superstitions surrounding the Black-eyed Susan Flower. However, coming across Black-eyed Susans, which are a common sight, will reportedly invoke feelings of encouragement and joy.
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Black-eyed Susan Flower Mythology and Folklore
There is a myth that may bear some speckles of truth about the Black-eyed Susan that was inspired by John Gay’s poem about the flower’s namesake and her partner, Sweet William. Sweet William is also the name of another flowering plant native to Southern Europe and parts of Asia.
Sweet William was introduced to North America and naturalized causing Black-eyed Susan and Sweet William to finally be reunited. Each spring, Black-eyed Susan, and Sweet William will always bloom together, representing their eternal love.
