Giant Coneflower Rudbeckia maxima
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- rud-BEK-ee-a MAKS-ih-muh
- Description
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Large coneflower is an herbaceous perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to the south-central USA, with a few records from South Carolina and North Carolina. The species epithet is Latin for "largest" and references the size of this plant, both its large leaves and tall flower stalks.
Large coneflower is easily grown in average, moist, well-drained soils in full sun. It is an easy-going plant that tolerates light shade, heat, some drought, nighttime visits from deer, and a wide range of soils. It can be grown from seed, but in ideal growing conditions, it will self-seed. It also propagates itself through rhizomes. Plant it in along a border, in a cutting, pollinator, or cottage garden or in a meadow or naturalized area. It serves as a food source for the larvae of the Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) butterfly.
The flower stalks rise to 7 feet bearing intense, yellow-rayed flowers. Each flower is about 3 inches with drooping rays and a 2- to 6-inch dark brown central cone. After the blooms go to seed, it will attract songbirds including goldfinches.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Fairly trouble-free plant. Snails and slugs can injure young plants. Powdery mildew can be a problem, but healthy plants usually recover.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Collector’s Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Golda Emanis'
- 'Golda Emanis'
- 'Golda Emanis'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Golda Emanis'
- 'Golda Emanis'
- 'Golda Emanis'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rudbeckia
- Species:
- maxima
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and southern United States
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) larvae. Flowers attract butterflies. After blooms go to seed, leave the flowers stalks and goldfinches and other small birds will feed on the seeds.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Moderately deer resistant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Description:
- The chocolate brown seed heads persist into early winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- In the summer flower stalks shoot up that are sparsely leaved, and have 2-3 daisy like blooms. They are 3" across, with yellow rays that droop slightly toward the ground around a prominant dark-brown center cone that can reach 2"-6" tall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Waxy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Clump of silvery blue-green foliage that resembles a cabbage or collard green leaf. Smooth glaucous covering and large basal paddle-shaped leaves with slender long petioles can reach 2' long and 10" wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
