Black-Eyed Susan vs Water Lily

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

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Asteraceae · flowers

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Water Lily

Nymphaea spp.

Nymphaeaceae · aquatic

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Black-Eyed Susan (Zones 3-9)

Water Lily (Zones 3-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 3–9

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan	Water Lily
Scientific Name	Rudbeckia hirta	Nymphaea spp.
Family	Asteraceae	Nymphaeaceae
Category	flowers	aquatic
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧 Aquatic
Soil	Well-drained	Pond/Water garden
Height	3'	6"
Spread	1' 6"	4'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Summer
Bloom Color	Yellow	White, Pink, Yellow, Red
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	Eastern North America	Worldwide
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Black-Eyed Susan

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantYes — Drought Tolerant

Water Lily

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.

Water Lily

✓Plant in containers submerged 12-18 inches deep.
✓Needs 6+ hours of direct sun.
✓Fertilize monthly during growing season.
✓Divide when crowded.

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 Water Lily if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with aquatic water in zones 3–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–9. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

View Black-Eyed SusanProfile →View Water LilyProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Black-Eyed Susan grows in USDA zones 3-9, while Water Lily grows in zones 3-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 3 through 9.

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

Black-Eyed Susan needs full sun and medium water, while Water Lily needs full sun and aquatic water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan or Water Lily?

Black-Eyed Susan grows taller at 3' compared to Water Lily at 6". Black-Eyed Susan spreads 1' 6" while Water Lily spreads 4'.

Are Black-Eyed Susan and Water Lily deer resistant?

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

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

Black-Eyed Susan has low maintenance while Water Lily 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	Water Lily
Scientific Name	Rudbeckia hirta	Nymphaea spp.
Family	Asteraceae	Nymphaeaceae
Category	flowers	aquatic
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧 Aquatic
Soil	Well-drained	Pond/Water garden
Height	3'	6"
Spread	1' 6"	4'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Summer
Bloom Color	Yellow	White, Pink, Yellow, Red
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	Eastern North America	Worldwide
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.

Water Lily

✓Plant in containers submerged 12-18 inches deep.
✓Needs 6+ hours of direct sun.
✓Fertilize monthly during growing season.
✓Divide when crowded.

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 Water Lily if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with aquatic water in zones 3–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–9. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Black-Eyed Susan grows in USDA zones 3-9, while Water Lily grows in zones 3-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 3 through 9.

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

Black-Eyed Susan needs full sun and medium water, while Water Lily needs full sun and aquatic water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan or Water Lily?

Black-Eyed Susan grows taller at 3' compared to Water Lily at 6". Black-Eyed Susan spreads 1' 6" while Water Lily spreads 4'.

Are Black-Eyed Susan and Water Lily deer resistant?

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

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

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