The best black-eyed Susan vine seeds for most gardeners are Sow Right Seeds’ Thunbergia packet, which lists about 100 seeds and the most complete growing details of any listing we compared. For classic yellow and orange in quantity, the Seed Needs multi-packs make it easy to plant a whole fence line or several hanging baskets, and if you want something different, Park Seed’s white black-eyed Susan vine gives a crisp black-and-white look. Every pick below is Thunbergia alata, the twining annual vine, not the Rudbeckia wildflower that shares its common name.
In this guide
- Black-Eyed Susan Vine at a Glance
- 1. Sow Right Seeds Thunbergia — Best Overall
- 2. Seed Needs Thunbergia 2 Packs — Best Value Multi-Pack
- 3. Park Seed White Black-Eyed Susan Vine — Best White Variety
- 4. Isla’s Garden Thunbergia Seeds — Best for Hanging Baskets
- 5. Seed Needs Thunbergia 5 Packs — Best for Long Fences
- 6. Carpet Creeping Thunbergia 300+ — Best High Seed Count
- 7. Country Creek Acres Thunbergia — Best Small Trial Pack
- What to Look for in Black-Eyed Susan Vine Seeds
- Frequently Asked Questions
Disclosure: Urban Lotus Project is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
How we compared: we compared 7 current Amazon Thunbergia alata seed listings on what each listing states (seed count, flower color, vine length, sowing details and pack size); we did not test or handle the products, and availability changes.
| Product | Best for | Key features | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Right Seeds Thunbergia | Best overall |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Seed Needs Thunbergia 2 Packs | Best value multi-pack |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Park Seed White Black-Eyed Susan Vine | Best white variety |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Isla's Garden Thunbergia Seeds | Best for hanging baskets |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Seed Needs Thunbergia 5 Packs | Best for long fences |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Carpet Creeping Thunbergia 300+ | Best high seed count |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Country Creek Acres Thunbergia | Best small trial pack |
| Buy now →Check current price |
Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Black-Eyed Susan Vine at a Glance
Black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata) is a fast, twining vine from tropical Africa. It is a tender perennial in frost-free areas and is grown as a summer annual across most of the US. From a spring sowing, it covers a trellis, mailbox post, porch railing or hanging basket with open, five-petaled flowers, usually orange or yellow with a dark chocolate throat, from midsummer until frost. Because it twines rather than clinging with tendrils or suckers, it needs thin supports such as string, wire, netting or a narrow lattice to wrap around.
Seed is the cheapest and most flexible way to grow it, especially if you want several baskets or a long run of fence. This roundup covers which seed packets to buy; for sowing, transplanting, feeding and support in detail, see our full guide on how to grow black-eyed Susan vine.
1. Sow Right Seeds Thunbergia — Best Overall
Large packet of about 100 Thunbergia alata seeds with yellow and orange dark-eyed blooms and full sowing details.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- About 100 seeds in a 2.75 g minimum packet
- States germination time and soil temperature
- Lists spacing, depth and vine spread
- Germination guarantee stated in listing
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Seed count | About 100 (minimum 2.75 g) |
| Flower color | Yellow and orange with a dark eye |
| Germination | 10–21 days at 60–70°F soil |
| Sowing depth and spacing | 1/2 in deep, 14–16 in apart |
| Vine size | 3–8 ft tall, 18–24 in spread |
| Bloom time | 60–90 days to flower |
Sow Right Seeds Thunbergia — compressed specs
Sow Right’s listing reads like a seed packet should. It gives a minimum packet weight and an approximate seed count, a germination window tied to soil temperature, sowing depth, plant spacing, expected height and spread, and days to flower. That is more practical information than any other listing on our shelf, and it lines up with how Thunbergia actually behaves: slow to sprout in cold soil, quick once warm, and flowering roughly two to three months after sowing.
About 100 seeds is plenty for several baskets and a trellis, with spares for a second sowing. The listing notes the packet suits trellises and hanging baskets, mentions that the company has taken the Safe Seed Pledge, and says it will make things right if the seeds do not germinate. The one quirk is the zone line: the listing says to plant in zones 9 to 12, which is where Thunbergia can live as a perennial. In colder zones it still grows well as a summer annual.
Pros
- Generous, stated seed quantity
- Most complete sowing details on the shelf
- Classic yellow and orange with dark eye
- Germination guarantee
Cons
- Single color mix only
- Zone note may confuse cold-climate growers
- Seed count is approximate by weight
Check Sow Right Seeds Thunbergia price on Amazon
2. Seed Needs Thunbergia 2 Packs — Best Value Multi-Pack
Two illustrated packets of Thunbergia alata seed in yellow and orange, packed for the current and following season.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Two packets to split between sowings
- Moisture-resistant, tear-resistant packaging
- Packed for this season and next
- Sowing instructions printed on each packet
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Pack size | 2 packets |
| Seed count | not stated in listing |
| Flower color | Yellow and orange, about 1.5 in blooms |
| Vine length | Up to 20 ft per listing |
| Storage | Seed intended for current and following season |
Seed Needs Thunbergia 2 Packs — compressed specs
Seed Needs is the one brand on our shelf that sells the same Thunbergia seed in single, two-pack and five-pack listings, and the two-pack is the sweet spot for most home gardens. One packet can go into early indoor sowing, the other into a direct sowing after the soil warms or into storage for next spring. The listing says packets are moisture resistant and that the seed is intended for the current and following growing seasons, which suits that split approach.
The listing does not state a seed count, so you cannot compare quantity directly against Sow Right’s roughly 100 seeds. It also describes the vine as growing up to 20 feet, which is at the long end of what you should expect from a summer-grown plant in most US gardens; the 3 to 8 feet stated by other sellers is a more typical result for a single season.
Pros
- Two packets for staggered sowings
- Packaging designed to keep seed fresh
- Illustrated packet with sowing info
Cons
- Seed count not listed
- Vine length claim is optimistic for a season
- No color choice beyond yellow and orange
Check Seed Needs Thunbergia 2 Packs price on Amazon
3. Park Seed White Black-Eyed Susan Vine — Best White Variety
25-seed pack of white Thunbergia with black centers on a 5 to 8 ft twining vine for trellises and containers.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Only white-flowered pick on our shelf
- Crisp black-and-white contrast
- Long summer-to-frost bloom season
- Suits mailboxes, railings and patio pots
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Seed count | 25 |
| Flower color | White petals, black center |
| Vine length | 5–8 ft |
| Bloom season | Early summer into fall, up to six months per listing |
| Sowing | Direct sow once soil warms, or start in a container |
Park Seed White Black-Eyed Susan Vine — compressed specs
If orange does not suit your color scheme, this is the pick. Park Seed’s white form keeps the dark eye that gives the vine its name but swaps warm petals for white, which reads cleaner against dark siding, in moon gardens and in mixed containers with blue or purple flowers. The listing describes a 5 to 8 foot vine that blooms from early summer well into fall, and points it at trellises, mailboxes, railings and pots.
Twenty-five seeds is a small pack compared with Sow Right or the 300-seed listing below, but it is enough for two or three baskets or a short trellis, with spares for failures. The listing suggests sowing directly once the soil warms; in short-season regions you will get flowers sooner by starting seed indoors a few weeks before your last frost.
Pros
- Distinctive white flowers
- Long stated bloom season
- Clear guidance on supports and containers
Cons
- Only 25 seeds
- Germination details not stated
- Direct sowing delays flowers in cool regions
Check Park Seed White Black-Eyed Susan Vine price on Amazon
4. Isla’s Garden Thunbergia Seeds — Best for Hanging Baskets
25+ heirloom Thunbergia seeds in golden, orange and creamy shades, with sowing depth, spacing and bloom timing listed.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Golden, orange and creamy color range
- Tight 8–12 in spacing suits baskets
- States 7–14 day germination
- Blooms in about 60–75 days per listing
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Seed count | 25+ |
| Flower color | Golden, orange and creamy with dark centers |
| Sowing depth and spacing | 1/4 in deep, 8–12 in apart |
| Germination | 7–14 days |
| Vine length | 5–8 ft |
| Days to bloom | 60–75 |
Isla’s Garden Thunbergia — compressed specs
Isla’s Garden pitches this packet squarely at trellises, hanging baskets and railing planters, and its details support that. The listing gives a closer spacing (8 to 12 inches) than Sow Right, which suits the way most people plant baskets: three or so seedlings around the rim, left to trail over the edges and climb the hanger chains. It also describes a broader color range than the other yellow-and-orange packets, including creamy shades.
The listing’s hardiness note spans zones 3 to 10 and labels the plant an annual, which is the right way to think about Thunbergia in most of the country. With 25-plus seeds, it is similar in quantity to Park Seed and Country Creek Acres, so it suits a few baskets or a single trellis rather than a long fence.
Pros
- Good mix of warm and pale colors
- Detailed planting specs
- Basket-friendly spacing
Cons
- Modest seed count
- Color mix not separable
- Shallow sowing depth differs from other packets
Check Isla's Garden Thunbergia Seeds price on Amazon
5. Seed Needs Thunbergia 5 Packs — Best for Long Fences
Five packets of Seed Needs Thunbergia alata seed for long fence runs, multiple trellises or sharing.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Five packets of the same seed
- Enough for fences, arbors and baskets
- Shareable, illustrated packets
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Pack size | 5 packets |
| Seed count | not stated in listing |
| Flower color | Yellow and orange, about 1.5 in blooms |
| Use | Privacy screening on fences and trellises |
| Packaging | Moisture-resistant, tear-resistant packets |
Seed Needs Thunbergia 5 Packs — compressed specs
This is the same Seed Needs seed as pick two in a larger bundle. It makes sense if you want to cover a long chain-link fence, plant several arbors, give packets away, or keep seed on hand for two seasons. The listing positions Thunbergia as a quick summer privacy screen, which works well on a fence with netting or wire for the vines to twine around.
As with the two-pack, the listing does not give a per-packet seed count, so judge it on packet number rather than total seeds. If you only have a couple of baskets, the two-pack or Sow Right packet is the better fit; seed loses vigor in storage, so buying far more than you will sow in two seasons is wasted.
Pros
- Most packets in one listing
- Good for sharing or two seasons
- Same seed as the two-pack
Cons
- Seed count not stated
- More than most small gardens need
- Single color mix
Check Seed Needs Thunbergia 5 Packs price on Amazon
6. Carpet Creeping Thunbergia 300+ — Best High Seed Count
300+ Thunbergia seeds for orange to deep orange 1 to 2 inch blooms, pitched at pots, gates, mailboxes and fences.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Highest stated seed count we compared
- Orange to deep orange flowers
- Listed as suited to containers
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Seed count | 300+ |
| Flower color | Orange to deep orange, some with black centers |
| Flower size | 1–2 in |
| Uses | Gates, mailboxes, trellises, fences, pots |
| Germination and spacing | not stated in listing |
Carpet Creeping Thunbergia 300+ — compressed specs
For sheer quantity, nothing else on the shelf comes close to 300-plus seeds. That makes it the pick for mass plantings, school or community gardens, or anyone who wants to sow thickly and pick the strongest seedlings. The listing describes orange to deep orange flowers with some dark centers, and highlights container use as well as gates, mailboxes and fences.
The trade-off is information. The listing gives no germination time, depth or spacing, and its title calls the plant a perennial, which is true only in frost-free climates. Treat it as a summer annual in most of the US and use the sowing guidance from the packets above. Note that the listing’s own wording says only some flowers have black centers, so expect a mix of eyed and clear-throated blooms.
Pros
- Very large seed quantity
- Rich orange color
- Good for containers and mass sowing
Cons
- Few sowing details
- Perennial label misleading for cold zones
- Not every flower has a dark eye
Check Carpet Creeping Thunbergia 300+ price on Amazon
7. Country Creek Acres Thunbergia — Best Small Trial Pack
25 black-eyed Susan vine seeds with golden yellow blooms for one trellis, a few containers or a hanging basket.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Small pack for a single trellis
- Golden yellow with a black eye
- Suited to trellises, fences and baskets
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Seed count | 25 |
| Flower color | Golden yellow with black center |
| Vine length | Up to 10 ft in a season per listing |
| Uses | Trellises, fences, containers, hanging baskets |
| Sowing details | not stated in listing |
Country Creek Acres Thunbergia — compressed specs
Country Creek Acres sells a 25-seed packet aimed at beginners, which is right-sized if you just want to try one basket or a mailbox post this year. The listing describes golden, yellow and black coloring and says the vine can reach up to 10 feet in a season, and it covers the usual uses: trellises, fences, containers and hanging baskets.
Like Park Seed and Isla’s Garden, the quantity is modest, and the listing does not give sowing depth, spacing or germination time. Use the details from the Sow Right or Isla’s listings as your guide. It is a sensible low-commitment way to see how the vine performs in your yard before buying more.
Pros
- Right-sized for a first try
- Bright golden yellow
- Versatile uses listed
Cons
- Only 25 seeds
- No sowing details
- Vine length claim is at the high end
Check Country Creek Acres Thunbergia price on Amazon
What to Look for in Black-Eyed Susan Vine Seeds
Make sure it is Thunbergia, not Rudbeckia
Search results for black-eyed Susan vine often mix in Rudbeckia hirta, the daisy-like prairie wildflower. Rudbeckia is an upright plant with a raised brown cone; it does not climb. Check that the listing names Thunbergia alata, describes a twining vine and mentions trellises or baskets. If it talks about meadows, cones and perennial hardiness to zone 3, it is the wrong plant. Our flowers and perennials hub covers both if you want the wildflower too.
Color
The classic look is orange or yellow with a dark throat, and most packets deliver a mix of those. White forms give a cooler, more formal look. Mixed packets are cheerful but unpredictable, so if you want a uniform basket or a matched pair by a door, choose a single-color packet.
Seed count versus your space
A hanging basket needs about three plants, a trellis or obelisk two to four, and a fence one every foot or so. Allow for some seeds not germinating and some seedlings lost at transplanting. A 25-seed packet covers a few baskets; 100 seeds covers most home gardens; multi-packs and 300-seed listings suit long fences and sharing.
Useful growing information
Listings that state germination time, soil temperature, depth, spacing and days to bloom are easier to plan with. Thunbergia sprouts slowly and unevenly in cool soil, so most gardeners outside the South start it indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost, often after soaking the seed overnight, then transplant when nights stay above about 50°F.
Supports
Because the stems twine, they need something thin to wrap around. Thick posts and flat walls do not work without added string, wire or netting. Hanging baskets need no support at all; the vine trails over the rim and climbs the chains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is black-eyed Susan vine an annual or perennial?
It is a tender perennial in frost-free climates and is grown as a summer annual in most of the US. Frost kills it, so in cold regions you resow each spring or overwinter a plant indoors.
When should I start black-eyed Susan vine seeds?
Start seeds indoors about six to eight weeks before your last frost, or sow directly outdoors once the soil is warm. Transplant seedlings after frost danger has passed and nights stay mild.
How long do Thunbergia seeds take to germinate?
The listings we compared state roughly 7 to 21 days. Warm soil speeds things up; cold soil slows germination and makes it uneven.
Can I grow black-eyed Susan vine in a hanging basket?
Yes, it is one of the best uses for it. Plant about three seedlings per basket; the vines spill over the edge and climb the hanger. Keep the basket evenly moist and feed lightly through summer.
Is black-eyed Susan vine the same as black-eyed Susan?
No. Black-eyed Susan vine is Thunbergia alata, a climbing vine. Black-eyed Susan is Rudbeckia hirta, an upright wildflower. Check the botanical name before buying seed.