Rudbeckia maxima (Giant coneflower; Great coneflower)
One of those North American prairie flowers that I treat similar to Verbena bonariensis in the garden. Grow it for the vertical quality it brings rather than as a stand or large drift in the traditional border style planting. It has scalloped, blueish grey foliage which remains at the base of the plant and while attractive, doesn't have much of a visual impact unless you have a large number of plants clustered together at the front of the border. Better to dot a few plants throughout a bed and enjoy the vertical spires in summer. Copes very well with wet winter soils but does need a weekly water to perform well in Perth's summer heat. Trim off the spent flowers in autumn and that's all the work it needs. Full sun to a little arvo shade. Flower stems between 1.5 - 2m depending on soil and watering.