Giant Coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima)

In the spring of 2021, a small herbaceous bed was established using young plants collected from rural Caddo parish. Four different species were collected: giant coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima), purple cone-flower (Echinacea sp.), bee balm (Monarda sp.), and boneset (Eupatorium sp.). They were planted near the brick retaining wall that separates the arboretum from Hamilton Hall. This spot is at the top of a gradual slope. It's shaded in the morning and evening, but full sun during the hottest part of the day, and like most of the arboretum, this area is irrigated. One woody plant, a short golden St. John's wort (Hypericum frondosum), was planted along with the herbaceous wildflowers.

Within the two-year time frame, none of the original plantings died and none of them have threatened to 'take over' the allotted space. Today, the giant coneflower and golden St. John's wort are both showcasing beautiful yellow flowers. All photos below are of the giant coneflower.

 

Here we see three giant coneflower flowers with the brick retaining wall serving as a backdrop. These flowers are supported by tall, sturdy stalks.

Note the angle of the photograph: we see underneath the flower because the photographer is only 5'3'', and a stepladder was not used for the photoshoot.

 

Rudbeckia maxima, flower, photographed late May

Rudbeckia maxima, flower, photographed late May

The flower stalks have a few leaves.

Giant coneflower plants have large, blue-green leaves.

Here we see the giant coneflower foliage: big, floppy, cabbage-like leaves.

Rudbeckia maxima, leaves, photographed late May

 

Rudbeckia maxima, leaf, photographed late May

 

This leaf was snipped from the ground, not from the flower stalk. The leaves forming the base of the plant are long, and the leafstalks are long, too.

 

This leaf measures approximately 9 inches in length. Margins are wavy.