I love wildflowers. On a recent bike ride down the bayou trails in Katy, my path was flanked by blankets of cheerful Black-Eyed Susan flowers. And even though this happy little plant was adopted as the state flower of Maryland in 1918, I am happy that it has found a home in the Lone Star State as well. Here are five quick facts about this sunny flower.

1. This flower has a very interesting name.
The scientific name of this flower is Rudbeckia, in honor of Olaus Rudbeck, a famous Swedish botanist who died in 1702. How cool to have a cheerful flower and not a weed named after you. As for its common name, no one really knows for certain where it came from. In some circles it is referred to as the Brown-Eyed Susan or Gloriosia Daisy.

2. This happy flower comes from a cheerful family.

The Black-Eyed Susan has the characteristics of a daisy. That’s because it is a member of the daisy family, hence the name Gloriosia Daisy. It most commonly appears dressed in various shades of yellow but also in golden and orange shades as well, each variety with its distinctive dark centers. Like a daisy, its brightly-colored petals just make me smile.

3. Native Americans found medicinal value in this plant.

Like so many other plants, the Black-Eyed Susan has medicinal value. American Indians used the root of the plant to make a tea to treat for worms. They also consumed this tea to treat cold and flu symptoms. Juice made from the root was also used to treat earaches. They processed other parts of the plant to wash sores and to treat snakebites and swelling, making this happy plant a helpful one as well.

4. This cheerful flower is attractive to pollinators.

Butterflies and bees love the Black-Eyed Susan and serve as the main pollinators of this plant. Birds, deer, rabbits, and other wildlife are drawn to this plant as a source of food. Birds especially enjoy the ripe seeds found in the eye or cone of the plant. Black-Eyed Susan also serves as a nursery. The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly lays its eggs on the plant. The petals then serve as a source of food for the caterpillars after hatching.

5. Variety is the spice of life.
The versatile and drought-resistant Black-Eyed Susan plants are at home in prairies and meadows as well as home gardens. There are an estimated 90 varieties of Black-Eyed Susan, many cultivated for use in bouquets of flowers. Varieties include Indian Summer, Goldstrum, and Denver Daisies to name a few. Cut flowers added to a bouquet of flowers will easily last a week or longer.