Honoring the Black-eyed Susan: Native perennial becomes the official flower of Appalachian State University

“Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are native to North America and one of the most popular wildflowers grown. They tend to blanket open fields, often surprising the passerby with their golden-yellow beauty.”

Farmer’s Almanac

By Linda Coutant

Posted Sep. 28, 2017 at 2:55 p.m.

Summer and seasonal wildflowers may fade, but the colors of the Black-eyed Susan will illuminate throughout the year in the hearts of Mountaineers.

“Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are native to North America and one of the most popular wildflowers grown. They tend to blanket open fields, often surprising the passerby with their golden-yellow beauty.”

Farmer’s Almanac

The native perennial, which grows abundantly on campus, was named Appalachian State University’s official flower by the Board of Trustees Sept. 22. Chancellor Sheri N. Everts announced at the start of the 2017-18 academic year she would put forth a resolution based on the idea from Horticulture Specialist Daniel Burleson.

“I love Daniel’s idea,” Everts said. “The campus has never been more beautiful thanks to our remarkable Landscape Services gardeners, who exemplify our institutional commitment to sustainability.”

View larger image — The Black-eyed Susan grows abundantly in sections of campus, thanks to Landscape Services. Photo by Marie Freeman

Here is the resolution unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees:

APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE BLACK-EYED SUSAN AS THE OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY FLOWER

Whereas, environmental and geographical beauty is a hallmark of Appalachian State University and the Appalachian Experience;

Whereas, Appalachian’s Landscape Services team exemplifies our institutional commitment to sustainability through its gardening practices and choice of native plant species;

Whereas, the official colors of Appalachian are black and gold;

Whereas, each summer the campus and surrounding landscapes bloom with the gold petals and black center of the perennial wildflower known as Black-eyed Susan;

Whereas, the Black-eyed Susan’s colors peak as Appalachian begins its academic year and students embark on new endeavors;

Whereas, Appalachian supports through its research and installation of honeybee hives the health of pollinating insects, who drink nectar from this wildflower and are vital to our eco-system;

Whereas, Appalachian values the ideas of employees and the meaning they find in the place where they live and work;

Whereas, Appalachian celebrates traditions that reflect the best of who we are;

Therefore, be it resolved that we, the Board of Trustees for Appalachian State University, endorse Horticulture Specialist Daniel Burleson’s idea to make the Black-eyed Susan the official flower of Appalachian State University and an Appalachian campus tradition.

Approved by the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees on this 22nd day of September.

/s/ James Barnes Signiture

James Barnes, Chair
September 22, 2017

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Service-learning project benefits Daniel Boone Native Gardens

Nov. 7, 2014

Students in a First Year Seminar course research, create and install plant signage at Daniel Boone Native Gardens.

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Faces of Appalachian: Daniel Burleson

This horticultural specialist keeps campus beautiful and safe year-round

Working a desk job is not the life for Daniel Burleson. A horticultural specialist with Landscape Services, Burleson makes the Appalachian State University campus look its best at all times of the year.

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Remarks by Chancellor Sheri N. Everts at the Sept. 22, 2017 Meeting of the Board of Trustees

“I’d like to begin with acknowledging a resolution on the agenda for today. This summer and early fall, the campus has been bursting with color. Landscape Services has done a magnificent job. I recently had occasion to read a profile of Horticulture Specialist Daniel Burleson. He talked about his favorite flower, the Black-eyed Susan, and mentioned that with its black and gold colors, it would be a perfect official flower of Appalachian. I love Daniel’s idea, and today I am presenting a resolution to you that would make that official. With your approval, we will institute another Appalachian tradition we can celebrate when students return each fall and the Black-eyed Susans are in full bloom.”

Read the chancellor’s remarks

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.