Rudbeckia is a genus name several species belonging to the Asteraceae (composite, sunflower, aster, or daisy family). Aster family has other plants like lettuce, sunflower, Jerusalem artichoke, chamomile, pot marigold (calendula), tarragon, zinnia, dahlia, chrysanthemum, safflower, yarrow, common daisy, among others.
Sometimes, Rudbeckias are known as coneflowers together with Echinacea species due to prominently elevated central disc in brown or dark shades of green or tones in between these colors with black-eyed-susan referring to Rudbeckia hirta.
If you happen to cultivate this perennial (a few species are annual or biennial) flowing plant with showy gold or yellow leaves, don’t worry about bunnies and deer. Rudbeckia species are one of the plants that don’t attract rabbits (1), i.e., rabbits don’t eat Rudbeckias, and they are one of the rabbit resistant plants.
Rudbeckia joins other asters like lavender, thyme, yarrow, zinnia, lamb’s ears, blue flax, yucca, lavender cotton, and red-hot poker, and penstemon that don’t attract bunnies.
While the Japanese beetles, two-spotted spider, and earwigs are known to cause the most damage to these plants, wild rabbits, cottontails, hares, or domestic bunnies may eat away Rudbeckia foliage and flowers.
More on Rudbeckias
Besides being ornamental flowers, these perennial plants help in the regeneration of prairies for livestock foraging. When they grow in abundance, it indicates that the specific prairie land is in great health.