Great Coneflower (Rudbeckia Maxima ) – 1 Gallon Pot

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b  Find Your Zone

Plant Type:  Herbaceous Perennial 

Flower Color:  Yellow with Green center cones

Flower Size: 2-3″ diameter

Flowering Period:  Mid Summer into Fall

Flower Type:  Daisy, coneflower

Fragrant Flowers:  No

Foliage Color:  Silvery Blue-Grey

Fragrant Foliage:  No

Berries:  No

Berry Color:  No

Attracts:  Butterflies, Birds, Bees, Pollinators, Visual Attention

Resistances:  Cold temperatures (-30F), Deer, Disease, Heat, Humidity, Insect, Rabbit

A North American native, Rudbeckia maxima, commonly known as Great Coneflower, Giant Coneflower, or Cabbage Coneflower, is a super-sized and stately Black-Eyed Susan that has a dynamic architectural presence in the garden. Everything about this plant is BIG. The bold and attractive silvery blue-grey leaves average 18 inches long. In early to midsummer, tall sturdy stalks rise above the foliage mound bearing 3-inch diameter coneflowers with large and tall dark brown cones surrounded by a skirt of drooping bright clear yellow petals that are great for cutting and use in flower arrangements. Great Coneflower is a native that is cold hardy to -30F and heat hardy to Zone 9b thriving in sunny sites with consistently moist soils. At 6 to 8 feet tall in bloom and 2 to 3 feet wide, this towering, eye-catching coneflower is excellent for use as a centerpiece or background in perennial and wildflower gardens.

Growing a whopping 6 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide in sunny and moist conditions, the Great Coneflower’s height makes it a perfect selection for the back of the perennial border or as a centerpiece in garden beds that can be viewed from all sides. Excellent for those areas in the garden where the soil tends to stay consistently damp to moist. A fine addition to butterfly gardens, wildflower gardens, cut flower gardens, rain gardens, cottage gardens and yellow color theme gardens. 

The Great Coneflower is very easy to grow in most any consistently moist but well-drained soil in full sun or part shade. Provide at least 5 hours of direct sun for best flowering. Will tolerate short dry periods but will appreciate supplemental water during prolonged periods of drought.