Rudbeckia maxima Giant Coneflower is a stately sight to behold! This eye catching flowering perennial produces glaucous, paddle-shaped, bluish-green cabbage-like leaves that are 24” long and 10” wide that give way to long strong 48" - 60" inch stems that are nearly leaf-less, topped with glorious bright yellow 3" - 4" inch daisy-like flowers with slightly drooping petals revealing a dome-shaped, dark chocolate colored center. A dramatic garden statement, this ornamental planting is certain to turn heads! Also commonly known as Giant Coneflower, Great Coneflower, Giant Brown-eyed Susan, Cabbage Coneflower and Great Rudbeckia Dumbo's Ears, this showy conversation piece thrives in a sunny location and tolerates almost all soil conditions. However, it prefers soil with adequate moisture for optimal blooming performance. Deadheading spent blooms will bring on a fresh flush of flowers and increase productivity. Plant this lovely architectural ornamental in mass to create a truly striking backdrop to shorter varieties in garden beds. An excellent option for dappling fence lines, dividing border plantings and creating a center point of interest in larger color swath plantings where height is needed to break up linear spaces. Divide this perennial every four years to propagate or leave spent blooms standing in fall to allow self-sowing seed and to leave the flower cones for the goldfinches and other small birds to feast upon during the winter months. Cold hardy to zone 5. Flowers from early summer through the first frost in fall. Packet: 20 seeds.