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Year Round Gardening
Last Summer’s Unanticipated Garden Sensation
Maximilian Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)
By Kitty West, Colorado Master Gardener
Some years ago I saw Maximilian
Sunflower in a local demonstration
garden. It was late in the growing
season and this plant was providing lots
of color and interesting textures at the
same time other flowering plants were
beginning to fade. I subsequently
planted Maximilian Sunflower in my
garden. The plant grew, but it did not
thrive. I thought it was drought-tolerant;
I was mistaken. During the early
summer months of 2014, my husband
and I installed a drip system (we
previously watered with by hand and
with hoses – a labor-intensive activity).
The added moisture provided just what
Maximilian Sunflower needed. In late
Newt, the family pet, enjoys a moment along sunflowers
August and September the plant was a
Photo by Kitty West
prolific bloomer and looked spectacular.
It is planted in less than ideal soil on the very warm,
southwest side of the house.
Evidently, all that was needed was a bit more moisture.
Maximilian Sunflower is an almost shrub-like perennial that blooms late in the season. It is tall
(4’-6’ feet, depending on conditions) and the 2-3” yellow flowers grow on the upper half of the
unbranched stems. The leaves are fairly long and narrow. If the soil is too fertile, the stems will
be weak and the plant will have to be staked. Like all sunflowers, Maximilian Sunflower will turn
to follow the sun as it crosses the sky. Supposedly, the plant is grazed by deer. This was not
my experience. The deer were more attracted to my potted annuals! Maximilian Sunflower is
attractive to bees and butterflies and appears to have few problems with pests and diseases. It
produces an abundant supply of seeds that many species of birds will eat. Full sun and
moderate moisture are required. In the late Fall, the stalks can be cut back for a tidier
appearance. The dried flower heads can be left on the ground for the birds. In the early Spring,
the plant can be divided. If divided, plant immediately and water thoroughly. Maximillian
Sunflower looks particularly attractive growing in front of a fence or a wall.
Maximilian Sunflower is native to the Great Plains. If you travel through Texas during the late
summer months you will surely see fields of Maximilian Sunflower It is named for Prince
Maximilian of Wied Neuweid, a German naturalist who explored the western United States in
the 1830s. Not all sunflowers are perennials. You can determine whether annual or perennial
by an examination of the roots. The roots of an annual sunflower are stringy. The roots of a
perennial sunflower have thickened into storage tubers. Maximilian Sunflower readily spreads
and forms a dense plant cluster that is effective for erosion control.
The Sunflower Ceremony:
The law school graduates of the University of Texas at Austin wear a sunflower during
graduation ceremonies. The sunflower reminds the new graduates they should keep their faces
turned toward the light of justice.
Sunflower Ceremony, School of Law, University of Texas at Austin http://www.utexas.edu/law/sao/graduation/history.html.
When you have questions, Colorado State University Extension has research based answers
Get answers to your horticulture questions by calling a Master Gardener Volunteer at 520-7684
or emailing [email protected]. Volunteers are available to help you Monday through
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