Maryland State Flower

Maryland State Flower

Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta

Black-eyed Susan

The Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) has been the official Maryland flower since 1918 when it was designated the “Floral Emblem” of Maryland by the General Assembly (Chapter 458, Acts of 1918; Code State Government Article, sec. 13-305).

Black-eyed Susans are perennial daisies, members of the sunflower family (Asteraceae). The flower heads measure 2 to 3 inches in diameter with yellow rays circling a dark-brown, spherical center.

Commonly found in fields and on roadsides, they bloom between May and August, reaching 2 to 3 feet in height.