The Black-Eyed Susan is a flower that is well-known and well-liked throughout the United States. However, the flower’s name is certainly unique compared to others, and its symbolism comes in many different forms. So, what are the Black-Eyed Susan’s meaning and symbolism?
The Black-Eyed Susan gets its meaning from an English poem by John Gay called Sweet William’s Farewell to Black-Eyed Susan. The flower is believed to symbolize resilience and encouragement, among many other similar qualities.
The rest of this article will discuss in more detail how the Black-Eyed Susan got its name and the meaning behind that name. It will also go over the many different attributes the Black-Eyed Susan symbolizes and explore what the flower has been used for in the past. If you’re interested in learning more about the Black-Eyed Susan and why it is such a great symbol of the United States, keep reading!
What Does a Black-Eyed Susan Symbolize?
The Black-Eyed Susan has a lot of symbolism attached to it from various different sources. The flower dates back to when Native American tribes were the only people living in the land that would become the United States, so it is one that is cherished. Although the Black-Eyed Susan has several symbolic meanings, there are two main qualities that the flower represents.
Resilience
Out of the two major symbols attributed to the Black-Eyed Susan, the most well-known is resilience. There are a few different reasons why resilience is so relevant and special to the flower.
Black-Eyed Susans are one of only a few flowers that can bloom just about anywhere the seeds fall. Throughout history, the plant traveled around the country with several Native American tribes, and it was able to adapt to its surroundings.
In fact, Black-Eyed Susans can grow in some of the most unlikely environments, and it is a plant that will fight to survive as it grows.
It is grown intentionally in people’s gardens but can also often be found along the sides of roads and in the wild. Once it is fully matured, it will stay in bloom for a long period of time, much longer than most other flowers of its kind.
The symbol of resilience gives the Black-Eyed Susan meaning about overcoming challenges that appear in life and how vital it is to stay strong when times are hard.
Encouragement
The other primary symbol that goes along with the Black-Eyed Susan is encouragement. This sentiment likely comes from the bright yellow color of its petals, which can usually make you feel joyful if you’re having a hard time believing in yourself.
The symbolism of encouragement will usually elicit positive emotions in most people, and the feeling lets them know that they are capable of whatever they choose to do.
The resilience of the flower and its ability to grow anywhere is also very encouraging. When you feel like there is not much hope left, the reminder that you are tough and can make it past the difficult times and succeed is an important one.
The symbolism of resilience and encouragement means that the Black-Eyed Susan is a perfect flower to add to a bouquet for someone who is going through a challenging time. It will show them how strong they truly are and provide them comfort, knowing they are receiving encouragement from a loved one.
Other Attributes That the Black-Eyed Susan Symbolizes
Although the two fundamental ideas that come to mind when discussing Black-Eyed Susan’s symbolism are resilience and encouragement, there are a couple of other attributes that have previously been related to the flower.
Justice and Truth
The thought that justice and truth can be found in the symbolism of the Black-Eyed Susan is an interesting one. The connections that these two words have to the Black-Eyed Susan can actually be found in the flower bud itself and the way the flower functions in nature.
Black-Eyed Susans can live for a very long time once they are fully matured, but eventually, as with any other plant, the petals will begin to droop. When this occurs, the brown middle of the flower is front and center for everyone to see. There is nothing keeping it covered and hidden from sight.
The way in which the brown part of the flower is exposed to the world is a solid equivalent to how, in a bad situation, wrongdoers will eventually be exposed when justice prevails. There comes a point where there is nowhere else to hide, and the person in the wrong will need to come forward and tell the truth about what happened.
Additionally, the bright yellow petals on the Black-Eyed Susan can sometimes shine a light onto the brown center when the sun hits them just right. When this bright light shines down on the otherwise dark center, it is a good reminder that justice will always bring light into the darkness.
As long as there is truth, justice will prevail, just as how there needs to be light shed from the petals to the dark bud.
Love and Companionship
Another lighter symbol that people often find in the Black-Eyed Susan is that of love and companionship. The flower is often paired with a flower known as Sweet William because they tend to look very beautiful together. That pairing is sometimes seen as a connection between two lovers who fit well and can grow together.
This pairing does not always mean romance. For some people, it can also represent the platonic or familial companionship we all seek to have. Black-Eyed Susans represent how important it is to love and be loved by the people you are closest to, and if you have resilience, you will be able to find your other half.
The American Dream
The final symbolism found in the Black-Eyed Susan is that of the American dream of opportunity for everyone. Black-Eyed Susans are spread all throughout the United States and can easily be found growing by roads, in people’s gardens, and in other uncommon places for flowers to blossom.
The availability of Black-Eyed Susans throughout the country reflects the idea that opportunity can be achievable for all American people as long as they have resilience and seek justice and truth.
What Is the Black-Eyed Susan’s Meaning?
The true reason the Black-Eyed Susan was given its name is unknown. It has been Maryland’s state flower since the day the state was created, April 18, 1918.
Maryland is close to the states where the British landed when they first sailed over to America. Because of the state’s location and the abundance of Black-Eyed Susans in that area, it is generally assumed that the flower was named by British colonists.
There is an English poem called Sweet William’s Farewell to Black-Eyed Susan that was written hundreds of years ago by John Gay, and many people attribute the name of the flower to that poem.
While the poem is about a woman named Susan looking for her lost lover William, it is believed that the Black-Eyed Susan and Sweet William flowers were named after the people in John Gay’s poem. The two wildflowers look very beautiful when in bloom together, so it makes sense that they would be compared to lovers.
The legend behind the name of the Black-Eyed Susan confirms its symbolism. The woman in the poem is resilient about finding her lover, and she is encouraged by the fact that the two are meant to be together.
Where Can Black-Eyed Susans Be Found?
Despite being so abundant all throughout the United States and being one state’s designated flower, the Black-Eyed Susan did not actually originate in America.
The original plant is native to Eastern Africa and was transported to America and other countries by colonizers like the British. It is now most easily found in the vegetation of Brazil and Hawaii and throughout Eastern Australia, in addition to the entirety of the United States.
What Are the Black-Eyed Susan’s Uses?
Along with being a beautiful flower that you can plant in your garden and enjoy looking at, the Black-Eyed Susan has several other beneficial uses as well.
Medicinal Properties
Being a simple wildflower, the Black-Eyed Susan actually has many uses as herbal medicine, and multiple parts of the flower can be used to help with various ailments.
Prior to colonial times, Native American tribes all over the United States used the different parts of the flower to heal injuries, sicknesses, and other painful issues. When the Black-Eyed Susan was pounded down and mixed with water, it could be used as an external wash to help prevent infection from snake bites, cuts, and other sores.
If the roots of the plant were infused and then consumed, it helped tribe members to overcome illnesses like worms or the common cold. And the sap from the root could be used to ease the pain of an earache.
There are likely other ways that Native American tribes utilized the flower. Because it is resilient enough to grow anywhere, it was very easy for them to find Black-Eyed Susans if they needed them in a pinch. They also likely spread the seeds of the plant throughout the United States when they traveled, which is why you can now find the flower in so many places.
Food and Beverage
Black-Eyed Susans were also very loved by Native American tribes as a source of food and drink and are even still used in some capacities today.
The flower petals and center buds can be crushed down and mixed with other flavors to create an herbal tea. Black-Eyed Susans can still be found in some tea recipes today.
Native Americans also pulled the leaves off the stems and used them to cook as a fresh side to go along with whatever meat they were eating that day. Although it is unlikely that you will find Black-Eyed Susan leaves in a grocery-store salad today, they were of great use hundreds of years ago.
Dye Color
The last primary way that we know Native American tribes used the Black-Eyed Susan is for the bright yellow color of its petals.
When they wanted to create mats that were different from previous ones they had made, the flower’s petals would be pulled off the buds and used to create a golden dye. This dye was then used to color the plants that they wove into mats.
Ultimately, since Black-Eyed Susans were so abundantly available, it was easy for Native American tribes to find several different uses for the entire plant. Black-Eyed Susans have genuinely been a trusted, well-loved plant since the beginning of America.
Black-Eyed Susan FAQs
Black-eyed Susan, also known as Rudbeckia hirta, is a flowering plant native to Eastern and Central North America and has been naturalized in Western parts of the continent and China. It belongs to the family Asteraceae.
No, it’s not edible. Even though it hasn’t been shown to be poisonous to humans, it should not be eaten. For anyone who has a sensitivity to the plant, it can cause asthma or an allergic skin reaction.
The Black-Eyed Susan plant lives for 2 years. It typically grows as a biennial plant, which means it takes two years to bloom from seed.
Final Thoughts
Black-Eyed Susans are truly remarkable flowers. They can be found all over the world, can be used for many different beneficial purposes, and have a touching meaning and symbolism that represent the United States well.
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