Giant Coneflower
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Giant Coneflower, Great Coneflower, Giant Brown-eyed Susan, Cabbage Coneflower
Rudbeckia maxima, or giant coneflower, is a perennial plant characterized by a basal clump of large, bluish-green, paddle-shaped leaves. In the summer, tall, sparsely-leaved flower stalks emerge, bearing coneflowers with slightly drooping rays and dark brown central cones 2-6" high. This plant blooms in the summer and is native to open wooded areas, moist prairies, and pastures along roads and railroad tracks in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas, but has been introduced in several other states, including Missouri and South Carolina.
The basal foliage of this plant remains evergreen in warm winter climates, and leaving the flower stalks in place after blooming can provide seeds for goldfinches. Another common name for this plant is the "cabbage leaf coneflower," which refers to its" basal leaves.
Rudbeckia maxima can be quickly grown in average, moist, well-drained soils in full sun, although it can tolerate light shade, heat, drought, and a wide range of soils. It thrives best when planted in wet, organically rich soils and may be grown from seed. Under optimal growing conditions, the species will naturalize by self-seeding.
Height: 5’-7'
Spread: 3’-4'
Bloom: July-September
Light: Full Sun
Water: Low
Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Origin: Southcentral U.S.
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
