Brown-eyed Susan - Rudbeckia triloba

Features: This is a biennial or short-lived perennial, unlike most other Rudbeckias, though it will readily reseed if allowed. It has fewer rays (petals) per flower as well. It does attracting many native bees, butterflies, wasps, beetles and other insects. 

It needs sufficient moisture and lower leaves will brown without it. A tallgrass prairie native, it will grow near woodlands and wetlands in drier areas. it is sometimes browsed by deer and rabbits. 

Genus name honors Olof Rudbeck (1630-1702) Swedish botanist and founder of the Uppsala Botanic Garden in Sweden where Carl Linnaeus was professor of botany.

Light: Full or part sun

Soil: Medium to moist

Height:  2 - 4 Feet

Blooms: July to August

See more information and photos at Illinois Wildflowers and Missouri Botanical Garden

Photo Credit: 1. Wikimedia, 2, 3. Illinois Wildflowers