Rudbeckia maxima, or giant coneflower, is a striking native perennial with glaucous blue green foliage and tall flower stems topped with large golden yellow petals surrounding dark central cones. Blooming in early to mid summer it creates a bold architectural presence and attracts pollinators and birds alike.
Height & Spread: 48 - 72 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Early to mid summer
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Moist, fertile soil; tolerates clay
Watering Needs: Moderate; prefers consistent moisture
Deer Resistance: Deer resistant
Native Status
Native to the south central United States, particularly Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, where it grows in moist prairies and open woodlands.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Visited by swallowtails, fritillaries, and skippers during bloom for nectar collection.
Birds
- Finches and other seed eating birds feed on the cone heads once flowering is complete.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 24 - 36 in apart to allow for full height development and strong architectural effect.
Landscape Placement
- Excellent for prairie plantings, naturalistic borders, and rain gardens. Works well as a specimen or focal point in large beds.
Companion Plants
- Silphium terebinthinaceum (Prairie Dock) - Echoes the large foliage form and provides structural variety.
- Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star) - Adds vertical spikes and pollinator value through summer.
- Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot) - Contributes aromatic foliage and complementary bloom timing.
- Ratibida pinnata (Gray Headed Coneflower) - Matches the prairie aesthetic with more delicate flower form.
- Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake Master) - Offers spiky, sculptural form and contrasting leaf texture.