18-24” tall x 12-18” wide. A classic bloom in vintage hues, Sahara Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is stunning massed in borders and butterfly gardens. The soft colors also lend themselves to more formal settings and bring romance to any garden. Commonly grown as an annual, this short-lived perennial is easy to grow in any well-drained soil. To ensure a stand year after year, allow some late-season flowers to develop seed for self-sowing. Plants naturalize well in meadows and cottage gardens through self-seeding. Autumn seed heads also provide beauty into the winter months and are often used in dried flower arrangements. Fresh blooms can be harvested as cut flowers when blooms are beginning to open. Rudbeckias commonly cloud the water in vases, add a few drops of bleach to the water to prevent this problem and extend vase life.