Bloomfield Has An Official ‘Town Flower’ – Here’s What It Is

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield has an official “town flower”: the Black-Eyed Susan.

On Tuesday, town officials and the Bloomfield Beautification Committee announced the results of their recent contest to name the town flower. Residents casting a vote had three other choices besides the winner: the cardinal flower, the phlox and the New York Aster. Each flower was vetted by the Bloomfield Beautification Committee for ease of growth and care, and all are native and perennial plants. The plants are also known to attract important pollinators like bees and butterflies.

But it was the Black-Eyed Susan that prevailed in the end.

The flower – which has striking yellow petals and a dark center – was officially crowned as the winner via a proclamation at the Bloomfield Town Council meeting on Monday.

To celebrate the selection of the Black-Eyed Susan as Bloomfield’s official flower, the beautification committee will be planting them throughout the town’s public gardens. Residents are encouraged to plant them in their own gardens as well.

A limited number of seedlings will be given away to residents on May 22 at the committee’s annual garden planting in the courtyard outside the library and Civic Center, officials said.

Councilwoman Jenny Mundell, council liaison to the committee, thanked them for leading the effort.

“Their commitment to improving Bloomfield through thoughtful, community-focused projects like this is a wonderful example of the ways in which residents can partake in making our town more attractive and more sustainable,” Mundell said.

“The Black-Eyed Susan is a beautiful perennial flower that represents the natural beauty of our township,” Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia said. “We are thrilled to name it as our official flower and look forward to seeing it bloom throughout our community in the years to come.”

Here's a bit more info on the Black-Eyed Susan, as per Monday's proclamation:

“The Black-Eyed Susan is known as a ‘keystone’ plant in gardens of the northeast, is a host plant for 20 different types of butterfly caterpillars and is a major source of pollen for almost 30 different types of bees … Most people are familiar with Black-Eyed Susans with their cheerful dark centers and bright yellow petals. They bloom from June to August and do best in full sun. They attract pollinators and do well as cut flowers.”

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