Its a biennial. All the ones I've had are volunteers which look like a coarse weed the first year, bloom the second year, then they die. The first year I had one it had volunteered on the hell strip and came from who knows where, I thought it was a weed, almost weeded it out, but didn't. It bloomed the following year. Maybe if you start them early they will bloom this year. I think they are worth it myself, they are so happy looking and gorgeous when blooming. I always welcome the volunteers.

I've seen the straight species actually bloom first year from self-sown seed, and persist till the next year to flower again. But typically, yes, biennial and your mileage may well vary.

Now that you mention it I have had some bloom the first year too only its later in the season. I've never had one persist and bloom for two years. Probably depends on how early they come up.

Yeah, I agree, usually the ones I see blooming in first year are late summer or early fall blooming. And it might be fair to say it simply kept blooming all winter into spring (then died).

They will bloom the first year from seed

Rudbeckia "Indian Summer"

Cathy, That's different than the ones I'm talking about, they are the wild type with very coarse scratchy leaves and stickery stems that look like something you'd see growing along the roadside. The flowers have big blackish/brown cones and real big 'crayola yellow' petals than hang down more.

Are we all talking about the same thing?

https://www.johnnyseeds.com/flowers/rudbeckia-black-eyed-susan/denver-daisy-film-coated-rudbeckia-seed-1937FC.11.html?source=google_johnny_seeds&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInd_qie3I3wIVjIlpCh3Zxw1bEAQYAiABEgI7S_D_BwE

Yes, but the cv varieties tend to be more annual than the wild species.

CV = ?

cultivar varieties (selection)

I let mine go to seed and keep some seedpods to start. I have not purchased any for years. I really like the variation of flower size and colour.

The wild species grows all over and they are quite attractive too.

Edited to say sorry I can't seem to delete the duplicate pic.

Mine are perennial - grown from seed. Some bloomed in the first year and others have bloomed in the second and third years. Looking for them again in this the fourth year. This is the first year I have tried to collect/sow seed from them so won't know if they are new plants (or old) until they get to full size this year.

I find myself feeling like it's unfair how much umph you northern folks get out of the same plants. But I guess it's like anywhere, you get extra hours of sunlight in summer and we get less winter.

It would be good to get a definite answer on this, sadly I think there's too many variables with different strains judging by the different responses. I had sowed some last year that didn't do much, most likely preparing for the next year like most biennials.