Black-Eyed Susan vs Boxwood

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Asteraceae · flowers

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Boxwood

Buxus sempervirens

Buxaceae · shrubs

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Black-Eyed Susan (Zones 3-9)

Boxwood (Zones 5-8)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 5–8

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan	Boxwood
Scientific Name	Rudbeckia hirta	Buxus sempervirens
Family	Asteraceae	Buxaceae
Category	flowers	shrubs
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Part Shade to Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Well-drained
Height	3'	8'
Spread	1' 6"	8'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Spring
Bloom Color	Yellow	Green
Growth Rate	Fast	Slow
Native Region	Eastern North America	Europe, Asia, Africa
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Black-Eyed Susan

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantYes — Drought Tolerant

Boxwood

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Black-Eyed Susan

✓Deadhead spent blooms to encourage reblooming.
✓Divide clumps every 3-4 years.
✓Tolerates poor soil and drought once established.

Boxwood

✓Avoid deep cultivation near shallow roots.
✓Thin interior branches for air circulation.
✓Protect from drying winter winds.
✓Don't plant too deep.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Black-Eyed Susan if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 3–9.

Choose Boxwood if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade to full sun with medium water in zones 5–8.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 5–8. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

View Black-Eyed SusanProfile →View BoxwoodProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Black-Eyed Susan and Boxwood grow in the same hardiness zone?

Black-Eyed Susan grows in USDA zones 3-9, while Boxwood grows in zones 5-8. Both plants can grow together in zones 5 through 8.

Do Black-Eyed Susan and Boxwood have the same sun and water needs?

Black-Eyed Susan needs full sun and medium water, while Boxwood needs part shade to full sun and medium water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan or Boxwood?

Boxwood grows taller at 8' compared to Black-Eyed Susan at 3'. Boxwood spreads 8' while Black-Eyed Susan spreads 1' 6".

Are Black-Eyed Susan and Boxwood deer resistant?

Yes, both Black-Eyed Susan and Boxwood are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Black-Eyed Susan or Boxwood?

Black-Eyed Susan has low maintenance while Boxwood has medium maintenance. Black-Eyed Susan may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

Explore More Data Tools

For adjacent public-data tools, methodology notes, and network updates, visit DataPeek Facts.

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan	Boxwood
Scientific Name	Rudbeckia hirta	Buxus sempervirens
Family	Asteraceae	Buxaceae
Category	flowers	shrubs
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Part Shade to Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Well-drained
Height	3'	8'
Spread	1' 6"	8'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Spring
Bloom Color	Yellow	Green
Growth Rate	Fast	Slow
Native Region	Eastern North America	Europe, Asia, Africa
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Care Tips

Black-Eyed Susan

✓Deadhead spent blooms to encourage reblooming.
✓Divide clumps every 3-4 years.
✓Tolerates poor soil and drought once established.

Boxwood

✓Avoid deep cultivation near shallow roots.
✓Thin interior branches for air circulation.
✓Protect from drying winter winds.
✓Don't plant too deep.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Black-Eyed Susan if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 3–9.

Choose Boxwood if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade to full sun with medium water in zones 5–8.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 5–8. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Black-Eyed Susan and Boxwood grow in the same hardiness zone?

Black-Eyed Susan grows in USDA zones 3-9, while Boxwood grows in zones 5-8. Both plants can grow together in zones 5 through 8.

Do Black-Eyed Susan and Boxwood have the same sun and water needs?

Black-Eyed Susan needs full sun and medium water, while Boxwood needs part shade to full sun and medium water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan or Boxwood?

Boxwood grows taller at 8' compared to Black-Eyed Susan at 3'. Boxwood spreads 8' while Black-Eyed Susan spreads 1' 6".

Are Black-Eyed Susan and Boxwood deer resistant?

Yes, both Black-Eyed Susan and Boxwood are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Black-Eyed Susan or Boxwood?

Black-Eyed Susan has low maintenance while Boxwood has medium maintenance. Black-Eyed Susan may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.