Flower:

Flowers are deep golden yellow, daisy-like, 1 to 2 inches across, held in widely branched open clusters. Flowers have 6 to 13 rays (petals) that are oval to round, with several small notches at the tips. The center disk is dark purple brown, round to almost conical.

Behind the flower are hairy bracts, typically 8 in number, of unequal size, spreading back away from the flower.

Leaves and stems:

Leaves are 2 to 4 inches long, ½ to 2 inches wide, dark green, thin and rough on both surfaces, covered in bristly hairs to varying degrees. Lower leaves are largest, stalked and often three-lobed; upper leaves and bracts are smaller, lance elliptic, sharply pointed with fine teeth or smooth edges. Stems are bristly hairy and usually reddish-green. Mature plants take on a bushy appearance from many branching stems.

Notes:

While a Minnesota species of special concern in the wild from loss of habitat to agriculture and invasive species, Brown-eyed Susan flourishes in gardens across the state. One of the best cut flowers around it can last for weeks in a kitchen vase. While the flowers may be similar to Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), though smaller, the leaves and overall plant structure make them easy to distinguish.