Giant Coneflower

About this plant

Rudbeckia maxima, also known as Giant Coneflower, is a show-stopping perennial revered for its impressive stature and unique beauty. This North American native boasts striking, glaucous blue-green foliage forming a dramatic basal rosette, from which rise magnificent, slender stems. From mid-summer through early fall, these sturdy stems are topped with brilliant yellow, drooping ray petals surrounding a prominent, dark brown cone-like center. These vibrant blooms create a stunning visual impact, drawing the eye upwards and adding vertical interest to any landscape. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Rudbeckia maxima is a champion for local ecosystems. Its long-lasting flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, and the prominent seed heads provide a valuable food source for birds throughout the colder months, making it an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly gardens.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Easily grown in full sun and well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming, though leaving some seed heads can provide winter interest and food for birds. Overwinter in USDA Zones 4-9 by mulching the crown in colder climates.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.