Black-Eyed Susan vs Daylily

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

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Asteraceae · flowers

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Daylily

Hemerocallis spp.

Asparagaceae · flowers

EdibleLow Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Black-Eyed Susan (Zones 3-9)

Daylily (Zones 3-10)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 3–9

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan	Daylily
Scientific Name	Rudbeckia hirta	Hemerocallis spp.
Family	Asteraceae	Asparagaceae
Category	flowers	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun to Part Shade
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Adaptable
Height	3'	3'
Spread	1' 6"	2'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Summer
Bloom Color	Yellow	Yellow, Orange, Red, Pink
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	Eastern North America	East Asia
Maintenance	Low	Low

Special Traits

Black-Eyed Susan

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantYes — Drought Tolerant

Daylily

Yes — EdibleNo — 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.

Daylily

✓Remove spent scapes after blooming.
✓Divide every 3-5 years when clumps become crowded.
✓Virtually pest and disease free.

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 Daylily if you want a low-maintenance plant. It thrives in full sun to part shade with medium water in zones 3–10.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–9. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

View Black-Eyed SusanProfile →View DaylilyProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Black-Eyed Susan grows in USDA zones 3-9, while Daylily grows in zones 3-10. Both plants can grow together in zones 3 through 9.

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

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

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan or Daylily?

Both Black-Eyed Susan and Daylily reach approximately 3' in height, with spreads of 1' 6" and 2' respectively.

Are Black-Eyed Susan and Daylily deer resistant?

Black-Eyed Susan is deer resistant, but Daylily is not. If deer are a concern, Black-Eyed Susan is the better choice, or protect Daylily with fencing.

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

Both Black-Eyed Susan and Daylily have low maintenance requirements. They need a similar level of care including regular attention to watering, pruning, and soil health.

Explore More Data Tools

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

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan	Daylily
Scientific Name	Rudbeckia hirta	Hemerocallis spp.
Family	Asteraceae	Asparagaceae
Category	flowers	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun to Part Shade
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Adaptable
Height	3'	3'
Spread	1' 6"	2'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Summer
Bloom Color	Yellow	Yellow, Orange, Red, Pink
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	Eastern North America	East Asia
Maintenance	Low	Low

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 Daylily if you want a low-maintenance plant. It thrives in full sun to part shade with medium water in zones 3–10.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–9. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Black-Eyed Susan grows in USDA zones 3-9, while Daylily grows in zones 3-10. Both plants can grow together in zones 3 through 9.

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

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

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan or Daylily?

Both Black-Eyed Susan and Daylily reach approximately 3' in height, with spreads of 1' 6" and 2' respectively.

Are Black-Eyed Susan and Daylily deer resistant?

Black-Eyed Susan is deer resistant, but Daylily is not. If deer are a concern, Black-Eyed Susan is the better choice, or protect Daylily with fencing.

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

Both Black-Eyed Susan and Daylily have low maintenance requirements. They need a similar level of care including regular attention to watering, pruning, and soil health.