Black Eyed Susan Companion Plants

Creating a beautiful garden is about putting the right plants together. If you love Black Eyed Susans, choosing the right black eyed susan companion plants makes your garden healthier and more vibrant.

These cheerful yellow flowers are a staple in many yards. They are tough, bloom for a long time, and attract butterflies. But they can look a bit lonely all by themselves. The right plant partners add different colors, shapes, and textures. They also help your Susans grow better by attracting good bugs or improving the soil. Let’s look at how to build a stunning garden around these reliable favorites.

This list includes plants that share the same needs as Black Eyed Susans. They like full sun and well-drained soil. Many are also drought-tolerant once established. These companions will create a showstopping display from midsummer into fall.

Ornamental Grasses

Grasses add movement and a soft, airy feel. They contrast beautifully with the bold daisy-like flowers of Susans.

Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis): This grass grows in a tidy clump. Its feathery plumes appear in early summer and last through winter.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum): A native grass with great fall color. Varieties like ‘Northwind’ offer sturdy vertical blades.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium): This native grass turns a stunning reddish-orange in autumn. It’s perfect for a natural look.

Tall Flowering Companions

These plants grow to similar or greater heights than Susans. They help build layers in your garden bed.

Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): Its wispy, lavender-blue spikes and silvery foliage are a perfect color complement. It loves hot, dry spots.
Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium): For the back of the border, this tall native has dusty pink flower clusters. It’s a major butterfly magnet.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): A classic partner. The pink-purple cones look amazing next to yellow Susans. They share almost identical care needs.

Mid-Height Fillers

These plants fill the space and add bulk to your planting scheme.

Catmint (Nepeta): Forms mounds of gray-green foliage covered in small lavender flowers. It blooms repeatedly if sheared back.
Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum): Combines white petals with a yellow center for a classic daisy duo. It extends the daisy theme.
Bee Balm (Monarda): Offers unique, shaggy flowers in red, pink, or purple. It attracts hummingbirds as well as bees. (Note: Needs good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew).

Groundcover and Spillers

Use these at the front of a border or in containers. They cover bare soil and soften edges.

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Hylotelephium): Its broccoli-like flower heads start pink and turn copper-red in fall. It provides great late-season interest.
Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina): The incredibly soft, silvery leaves offer wonderful textural contrast. It’s tough and drought-resistant.
Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata): A spring-bloomer that creates a carpet of color early in the season. It’s green foliage remains a nice base later.

Bulbs for Successional Bloom

Don’t forget about spring! Plant bulbs around your perennials for color before the Susans wake up.

Daffodils and Alliums are excellent choices. Their foliage dies back just as the Susans are starting to grow, hiding the fading leaves.

Designing Your Companion Plant Garden

Knowing what to plant is half the battle. The other half is putting it all together in a way that looks intentional and beautiful. Here are some key principles.

Consider Color Theory

Yellow Black-Eyed Susans are versatile. Here’s how to use color effectively:

Harmonious Schemes: Pair with other warm colors like orange Coreopsis or red Bee Balm for a vibrant, energetic feel.
Complementary Contrast: Purple and yellow are opposites on the color wheel. This creates high contrast and maximum vibrancy. Use Russian Sage, Purple Coneflower, or Salvia.
Soft & Romantic: Combine with white (Shasta Daisies) and soft pink (Garden Phlox) for a gentler look.

Play with Texture and Form

This is what gives a garden depth and keeps it interesting even when fewer plants are in bloom.

Place the round, bold flowers of Coneflowers next to the spiky blooms of Salvia.
Let the fine, airy texture of ornamental grasses play against the broad, coarse leaves of Joe-Pye Weed.
Use the low, mat-forming texture of Lamb’s Ear as a foil for upright flower stalks.

Create Layers for Visual Interest

Think of your garden bed in three layers: back, middle, and front.

Back Layer (Tall): Use tall grasses or flowers like Joe-Pye Weed or Giant Coneflower.
Middle Layer (Medium): This is where your Black-Eyed Susans will shine. Interplant them with other mid-height perennials like Bee Balm or Catmint.
Front Layer (Short): Edge the bed with low growers like Sedum, Creeping Phlox, or even herbs like Thyme.

Practical Planting and Care Steps

Now, let’s get your plants in the ground. Following these steps will give your new garden the best start.

Step 1: Site Selection and Preparation

Black Eyed Susans and their companions need at least 6-8 hours of direct sun daily. Good drainage is critical. To prepare the bed:

Clear the area of weeds and grass.
Loosen the soil to a depth of about 12-15 inches.
Mix in 2-3 inches of compost or well-rotted manure. This improves drainage and adds nutrients.

Step 2: Arranging Your Plants

Always arrange potted plants on the soil surface before digging any holes. This lets you visualize spacing and adjust placement. Remember to check mature plant sizes on the tags to avoid overcrowding.

Step 3: Planting Properly

Dig a hole twice as wide as the plant’s root ball but no deeper. Gently remove the plant from its container and loosen any circling roots. Place it in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill with soil, firm gently, and water thoroughly.

Step 4: Ongoing Maintenance

Watering: Water deeply once or twice a week after planting until established. Mature plants are quite drought-tolerant.
Deadheading: Removing spent flowers encourages more blooms on many plants, including Susans. You can leave some seed heads in fall for the birds.
Dividing: Every 3-4 years, Black Eyed Susans can get crowded. Divide them in early spring or fall to rejuvenate.
Staking: Tall varieties in rich soil may flop. Use discreet peony rings or stakes early in the season.

Benefits of Thoughtful Companion Planting

Why go to all this trouble? The rewards go far beyond just looks.

Ecological Benefits

A diverse planting creates a healthier mini-ecosystem.

Pollinator Paradise: Different flower shapes attract different pollinators. Flat daisies for butterflies, tubular flowers for hummingbirds, and small blooms for beneficial wasps.
Pest Management: Companion plants can repel harmful pests or attract predatory insects that eat aphids and other bugs. For example, the strong scent of Catmint can deter some pests.
Habitat: Grasses and sturdy stems provide overwintering sites for insects and seeds for birds.

Garden Health Benefits

Improved Soil Health: Deep-rooted plants like grasses help break up compacted soil. Legumes (like some native clovers) can fix nitrogen in the soil.
Weed Suppression: A dense planting of companions leaves little room for weeds to germinate and grow.
Disease Reduction: Good air circulation between different plant types can help reduce the spread of fungal diseases like powdery mildew.

What to Avoid Planting With Black Eyed Susans

Not every plant is a good neighbor. Avoid plants that have very different needs.

Shade-Lovers: Hostas, Ferns, and Astilbes will struggle and burn in the full sun that Susans require.
Water-Lovers: Plants that need constantly moist soil, like some Irises or Cardinal Flower, will not thrive in the well-drained conditions Susans prefer.
Aggressive Spreaders: Be cautious with mints or some types of bee balm. They can quickly overtake more well-behaved perennials if not contained.

Seasonal Interest and Year-Round Structure

A great garden looks good across multiple seasons. Here’s how your companion planting can achieve that.

Spring

Bulbs like daffodils bloom. The fresh green foliage of perennials emerges. Creeping Phlox flowers at the front of the border.

Summer

This is the peak show. Black Eyed Susans, Coneflowers, Bee Balm, and Catmint are in full glory. Ornamental grasses begin to send up their plumes.

Fall

Many Susans and Coneflowers are still blooming. Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and grasses come into their prime with fantastic fall color. Seed heads provide food for birds.

Winter

Leave the spent stems and seed heads standing. They catch frost and snow, creating beautiful silhouettes. They also continue to provide crucial habitat for overwintering insects.

FAQ: Black Eyed Susan Companion Plants

What grows well with Black Eyed Susans?

Many sun-loving perennials are excellent companions. Top choices include Purple Coneflower, Russian Sage, ornamental grasses like Switchgrass, Catmint, and Bee Balm. They all share similar needs for sun and drainage.

Do Black Eyed Susans spread?

Yes, they can spread readily by seed and also form expanding clumps. This is why giving them enough space and dividing them every few years is important. Some newer cultivars are less aggressive.

Where is the best place to plant Black Eyed Susans?

Plant them in a location that gets full sun all day. The soil must be well-drained. They are perfect for sunny borders, cottage gardens, and native plant or pollinator gardens.

What can I plant with Black Eyed Susans for continuous bloom?

Start with spring bulbs. Follow with early perennials like Salvia. Then let the Susans and their summer companions take over. Finish with fall-blooming Sedum and the changing hues of ornamental grasses.

Can I plant Black Eyed Susans with vegetables?

Absolutely. They make a great border for sunny vegetable gardens, attracting pollinators to your squash and tomatoes. Just ensure they don’t shade your sun-loving veggies.

Choosing the right black eyed susan companion plants is a rewarding process. It turns a simple planting into a dynamic, living community. By considering color, texture, height, and bloom time, you create a garden that is more than the sum of its parts. This approach supports local wildlife, improves your soil, and gives you a beautiful view that changes with the seasons. Start with a few of the suggested companions and see how they bring out the best in your vibrant Black Eyed Susans.