A black-eyed Susan is a bright wildflower with golden-yellow petals surrounding a dark brown or black center, like a cheerful face with a dark eye in the middle. These flowers grow wild across North America, especially in fields and along roadsides during summer and fall.

The flower gets its name from that distinctive dark center, which looks like a black eye (though it's actually deep brown). The petals radiate outward like sun rays, making black-eyed Susans easy to spot in meadows and gardens. They're tough flowers that can grow in poor soil and handle hot weather, which is why pioneers often found them spreading across prairies.

Black-eyed Susans are Maryland's state flower and appear frequently in wildflower mixes because they attract butterflies and bees. Gardeners like them because they're reliable bloomers that don't need much care. Artists often paint them because their bold colors and simple shape capture the feeling of summer in the countryside.

The scientific name is Rudbeckia hirta, but most people just call them black-eyed Susans. Once you learn to recognize them, you'll start noticing them everywhere in summer.