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Rudbeckia maxima
Rudbeckia maxima Nutt.
Giant Coneflower, Great Coneflower, Giant Brown-eyed Susan, Cabbage Coneflower
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: ruma3
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Giant Coneflower has clumps of silvery-blue foliage that give rise to stately flower stalks. The flowers have intense yellow ray flowers that dangle from tall brown centers. It should be cut back to the base after blooming to keep tidy and be planted in mass for best effect in landscapes.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 8 feet tall.
Leaf: Gray-Green
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep
Distribution
USA: AR , LA , OK , SC , TXNative Distribution: Northeastern and eastern Texas, northwestern Louisiana, southwestern Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. Records from South Carolina are for introduced plants.
Native Habitat: Found in moist open places. Forming beds in low ground, sandy or silty soils; east Texas west to East Cross Timbers. Commonly on moist roadside ditches.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: HighLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Drought Tolerance: Low
Conditions Comments: The flowers have intense yellow petals that dangle from tall brown centers. Clumps of silvery-blue foliage give rise to stately flower stalks.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Makes a good cut flower.Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FAC | FAC | FACW | FAC |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE
Wildflower Center Seed Bank
LBJWC-1066 Collected 2007-07-22 in Harrison County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterBibliography
Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. WasowskiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Rudbeckia maxima in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Rudbeckia maxima in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Rudbeckia maxima
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-01-13Research By: TWC Staff