Helianthus maximiliani - MAXIMILIAN SUNFLOWER
Robust perennial sunflower with ornamental leaves and fairly big golden flowers at the end of summer and early fall.
Tolerates drought, dry soils, and is a very good cut flower.
Attracts a lot of wildlife!
Blooming Time: August to September
Size: 7' tall x 3-4' wide strong and dense clumps
USDA Zones: 4 to 8
Culture: full sun, average garden soil, not too fertile, not too wet. Tolerates wide range of soils, including leaner, poor, shallow, sandy and dry soil. In the garden it is better to keep it in full sun and average, not too rich soil, otherwise it can become aggressive, and with too nutrients or too much shade can even flop (it also tolerates half shade, but with the risk of weaker flopping stems)
Moisture Needs: dry, medium-dry
Origin: H. maximiliani can be found in the majority of the US and in southern Canada, see the BONAP distribution map.
Is often found in dry open areas, roadsides, prairies, bluffs, limestone glades, ditches, waste areas.
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: no - browsed by the deer and other mammals / no - rabbits do eat young shoots, until the plant gets big
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: yes / yes. Offers nectar and pollen to long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, butterflies and skippers, and beetles. Host plant for Checker Butterfly and some moths
Attracts Hummingbirds: no, but song and game birds eat the seeds
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 5' deep pot
Plant combination: Excellent for the background of bigger perennial borders, naturalistic plantings, bird gardens, pollinator gardens, butterfly gardens, hedges or naturalized. Can be grown as a solitaire plant too.
Picture copyright: Matt Lavin, Commons Wikimedia
Helianthus maximiliani - MAXIMILIAN SUNFLOWER
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Robust perennial sunflower with ornamental leaves and fairly big golden flowers at the end of summer and early fall.
Tolerates drought, dry soils, and is a very good cut flower.
Attracts a lot of wildlife!
Blooming Time: August to September
Size: 7' tall x 3-4' wide strong and dense clumps
USDA Zones: 4 to 8
Culture: full sun, average garden soil, not too fertile, not too wet. Tolerates wide range of soils, including leaner, poor, shallow, sandy and dry soil. In the garden it is better to keep it in full sun and average, not too rich soil, otherwise it can become aggressive, and with too nutrients or too much shade can even flop (it also tolerates half shade, but with the risk of weaker flopping stems)
Moisture Needs: dry, medium-dry
Origin: H. maximiliani can be found in the majority of the US and in southern Canada, see the BONAP distribution map.
Is often found in dry open areas, roadsides, prairies, bluffs, limestone glades, ditches, waste areas.
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: no - browsed by the deer and other mammals / no - rabbits do eat young shoots, until the plant gets big
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: yes / yes. Offers nectar and pollen to long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, butterflies and skippers, and beetles. Host plant for Checker Butterfly and some moths
Attracts Hummingbirds: no, but song and game birds eat the seeds
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 5' deep pot
Plant combination: Excellent for the background of bigger perennial borders, naturalistic plantings, bird gardens, pollinator gardens, butterfly gardens, hedges or naturalized. Can be grown as a solitaire plant too.
Picture copyright: Matt Lavin, Commons Wikimedia