Helianthus maximiliani
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Helianthus dalyi
- Phonetic Spelling
- hee-lee-AN-thus maks-ih-mill-ee-ANE-ee
- Description
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Maximilian sunflower is a tall, rhizomatous, perennial prairie wildflower native to portions of Canada, the United States, and Northeast Mexico, and found along roadsides, prairies, bluffs, and waste areas. It is thought that it originated in the midcontinental prairies and was subsequently spread along the highways and railroads of North America. It is a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae). The plant grows 2 to 10 feet tall and has tall, rigid, unbranched, hairy stems and long, narrow, light green to gray-green leaves. The flowers have bright yellow petal-rays and a central disk of dark yellow, tubular disk florets. The specific epithet, maximiliani, honors the Prince Maximilian of Germany, a naturalist who led an expedition exploring the Great Plains from 1832 to 1834.
This plant is easy to grow and can tolerate a variety of conditions. Prefers full sun, medium-moist to dry, well-drained soils of clay, loam, or sand. It is drought-tolerant once established and is tolerant of deer, dry, clay, and rocky soil. It is easily grown from seed and can self-seed, forming large colonies. Taller plants may benefit from staking.
The Maximilian sunflower attracts bees, butterflies, skippers, and beetles. It is also the larval host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly. The seeds serve as a food source for birds, squirrels, and gophers. Rabbits, groundhogs, and livestock graze the plant's leaves.
Attractive plant for wildflower, native, or cottage gardens as well as in naturalized areas or meadows.
Quick ID Hints:
- The stems are rough and have short hairs.
- Narrow, long leaves, up to 12 inches long.
- Grayish-green leaves with fine white hairs.
- The leaf margins are mostly toothless.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It has no significant insect or disease problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Helianthus
- Species:
- maximiliani
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada to Northeast Mexico
- Distribution:
- Native: United States--AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY; Canada--Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan: Mexico Northeast. Introduced: Czechoslovakia and Germany
- Wildlife Value:
- Numerous species of birds eat the seeds, and it provides nectar to bees and butterflies. This is a larval host plant that supports Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis). The Silvery Checkerspot has at least 1-2 broods in the north from June-July in the deep south and Texas, they have as many as 3-4 broods from May through September.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- This sunflower provides food for birds and livestock.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a dry, one-seeded cypsela that usually has an attached pappus, which is made up of stiff bristles.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flower heads grow on terminal stalks and from leaf axils. The flower head has 15-30 yellow petal-ray flowers, and the rays are deeply veined and slightly toothed at the tip. The center disk has dark yellow disk florets and measures 1 inch across. The diameter of the flowerhead is usually 2 to 4 inches. Each flowering stem has 4 or more flower heads. Blooming occurs from August to September.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are grayish-green or light green, long and narrow, with smooth, wavy margins, and sometimes small teeth. The leaves are often folded lengthwise along the center vein. The tips of the leaves are pointed. The sessile leaves are up to 10 inches long and 2 inches wide. The upper surface of the leaf has fine white hairs. Both sides of the leaves have a coarse texture. Before this plant loses its leaves in the winter, the leaves may turn purple during fall.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are green to purplish, tall, stiff, unbranched, and hairy. The flowers are borne at the end of the stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
