Swamp Coneflower Rudbeckia maxima
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- rud-BEK-ee-a MAKS-ih-muh
- Description
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Rudbeckia maxima, or Large Coneflower, is a herbaceous perennial in the daisy family that 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.
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
- 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
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
