Notes On The Spectacular Maximilian Sunflower
If you wish to see the Maximilian sunflower in its native setting, start in North Dakota, or even Saskatchewan, and head south until you reach southern Texas and the Mexican border. You've traveled down the center of the United States, home of this spectacular plant. Some say it is native to Illinois, and others say Texas, but the Maximilian sunflower seems at home in any of the Plains states.
Unlike many of the sunflowers we grow in our gardens, the Maximilian sunflower is a perennial, and a welcome visitor in most places. Besides the home garden, it will be found growing in amongst prairie grasses, on rocky ledges, and practically anywhere it can gain a foothold. Cattle browse on it, bees and butterflies, especially Monarch butterflies, are attracted to it, and goldfinches thrive on the seeds.
Characteristics - The Maximilian sunflower grows to a height of anywhere from 3' to 10'. If you start your own plants from seeds, and start the seeds early indoors, you may end up with 10-footers. If you sow the seeds outside in late spring, the plant may only reach 3' or 4' the first year, but is still very attractive. This is not a plant that you place in with other flowers in the garden. Once it is ready to bloom, the plant starts to branch out, and you end up with a rather wild looking specimen, covered with a multitude of blooms, which seems intent on filling available space, having a spread that can approach 4'. The result can be somewhat stunning. If the Maximilian sunflower has an enemy, it’s the wind, which can sometimes cause branches to break off. Still, this sunflower thrives in the prairies, where strong winds are common, and in many locations nearly constant.
The Maximilian sunflower is hardy in Zones 4-9, though appears to do fine, at least if planted as an annual, in North Dakota, near the Canadian border. This sunflower is not particularly fussy about the soil it's planted in, many wildflowers are not. It is claimed that the seeds appear to have a rather low germination rate, with typically about a third of the seeds sprouting, so bear that in mind when planting your own. In most instances you won't need a whole lot of seeds, unless you have a whole lot of room to work with. The Maximilian sunflower can even serve as an early season hedge, as the attractive foliage is quite dense. When the plant grows to a height of 8' or more, its branches making up the top 4' are those that are covered with columns of blooms. If you don't want to see your mammoth sunflower being whipped by the wind, it can always be planted by a screen or trellis and the branches secured.
Foliage - The leaves of the plant are also somewhat noteworthy, being different in shape than is typical for the sunflower family. The leaves are more narrow and sword-shaped, typically 12 inches long and 2 inches wide. The leaves are light green and are covered with fine hairs, as is the sturdy stem. Once the plant is in bloom, which occurs in late summer or early fall, it remains in bloom for up to a month. Since the hairs on the stalk discourage squirrels or other small animals from reaching the flower heads, seeds are often available to feed birds well into November. Winds and birds tend to spread the seeds such that the Maximilian sunflower is often found in colonies.
As one gardener put it, if you like a plant that's big, showy, and somewhat on the wild side in appearance, the Maximilian sunflower is a plant for you.