Maximillani Sunflowers (Helianthus maximiliani)
TALL, BRIGHT & HANDSOME… with 5” flowers what’s not to love about ‘Max’~ Maximilian Sunflower that is!
‘Max’ is what we affectionately call this native perennial sunflower here at our farm. In average soil, Max will reach heights up to 8’-10’ if you let it.
(We let some patches grow as tall as they want and others we give a ‘Chelsea Chop’ to in early June to keep them under 4’)
Plant Culture
Light: Sun
Soil: Moist to moderate soil; tolerant of wide range from average to sandy. Homing this sunflower in fertile soils produces weak stems making plants fall over.
Water Use: Low– drought tolerant once established.
Height: up to 10’ tall
Spacing: 1-3’ apart for air flow
Garden Buddies: Purple Coneflower, Yarrow, Blazing Star, and other prairie dwellers.
Birds love NATIVE sunflowers too as their central disk & flower petals produce seeds. Maximilian Sunflowers have disk full of seeds plus 19 petals with seeds!
Don’t forget to leave the stalks alone until Spring for sheltering overwintering insects!
** makes a nice cut flower too but let flower heads go to seed for feeding the birds**
Fun Fact: Native sunflowers are actually members of the Aster Family but placed in the Helianthus family due to their button-like disks that hold abundant pollen & nectar for pollinators.
