When it arrives
Your plug tray
Plugs are small and dry out fast. Water on arrival, keep in bright light, and harden off a week before planting. Pot 72-cell plugs into 3-4 in pots or plant directly once rooted. Plants fill out quickly.
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Real dishes from our Field Notes recipes, shared by the people who made them.
American Gold Rush grown by our community
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- Mature height
- 26.0 in
- Mature spread
- 44.0 in
- Bloom
- Mid-July – peak Mid-August
- Fragrance
- None
- Deer
- Moderately resistant
Lavender companion · grow guide
How to grow American Gold Rush
Black-Eyed Susan · Rudbeckia
Black-eyed Susan wants full sun and any soil that isn't soggy. Once settled it's tough, long-blooming, and drought tolerant.
Check my zone & planting dates
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Full sunLight
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Moderate waterAverage drainage
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pH 5.5–7.5Soil
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Zones 4a–9bHardiness
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26″ tall44″ wide
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Some resistanceDeer · rabbits some resistance
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Mildly toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if American Gold Rush will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 4a–9b
Spring or early fall.
Your year with American Gold Rush
JFMAMJJASOND
When to plant
Spring or early fall.
How deep
Crown at soil level; don't bury the leafy rosette.
Spacing
18-24 in apart; it spreads by short rhizomes.
Soil
Average soil, clay to loam · pH 5.5–7.5
Fix-it tip: Adapts to most soils. In heavy clay add compost and avoid standing water.
Sun
Full sun (tolerates part shade).
Shade reduces bloom and increases leaf spot.
Don’t give up on it
Is it alive? What spring looks like
A basal rosette of dark green leaves appears in early to mid spring. Flower stems follow in early summer; bloom runs midsummer into fall.
Spring
Cut back old stems; divide if crowded.
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Summer
Deadhead for longer bloom.
Fall
Leave seed heads for birds.
Winter
No care needed.
Watering
First season: Water weekly through the first summer if rain is short.
After that: Tolerates drought; water in long dry spells for best bloom.
Feeding
Light or none; compost in spring is plenty.
Pruning & deadheading
Deadhead to extend bloom, or leave seed heads for birds and winter interest. Cut back in late winter or early spring.
Dividing
Every 3-4 years in spring when clumps get crowded.
Winter
Very cold hardy (zones 3-9). No special care.
Summer heat
Handles heat well. Septoria leaf spot can show in humid summers; some newer selections resist it.
Black spots on lower leaves
Likely cause: Septoria leaf spot
What to do: Space for airflow, water at soil level, and remove spotted leaves in fall.
Spreading beyond its spot
Likely cause: Short rhizomes and self-seeding
What to do: Divide in spring and deadhead to limit seedlings.
Floppy stems
Likely cause: Shade or very rich soil
What to do: Give more sun and stop feeding.
Too wet or too dry?
Yellowing and crown rot mean waterlogged soil. Wilting flowers and crispy leaves mean too dry.
Watch for
- Septoria leaf spot (dark spots on lower leaves)
- Powdery mildew
- Southern blight in warm, humid areas
- Aphids
Pets & wildlife
Not listed by ASPCA. Related Rudbeckia species are reported to cause illness in livestock that graze them heavily. Discourage pets from chewing and call your vet if a lot is eaten.
Deer: somewhat resistant · Rabbits: somewhat resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
In a container
Good in pots · 2 gallon+
Works in sunny pots; water more often than in-ground plants.
Indoors
Outdoor plant
Needs full sun and winter cold.
Winter chill
Best after a cold winter
Established plants bloom best after a winter.
Growing it on
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 2 gallon pot
Time to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it near your lavender
Shares lavender's full sun and handles dry spells, but tolerates richer, moister soil and spreads. Plant at the bed edge or adjoining bed; gold flowers pick up after lavender's first bloom.
Same bedNearbyIts own area
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