Perennial
Full sun to partial shade
Medium to dry soil
3-15' tall, will eventually form a colony about 5' wide
Blooms late summer to early fall
A true gentle giant of a sunflower. A reliable perennial species that can produce dozens of blooms per stalk. The bloom period begins in very late summer to early fall and lasts for about a month. This makes it a valuable nectar plant for fall Monarch migration. This plant is a copious producer of oil-rich seeds, often feeding birds well into winter. Host for Silvery Checkerspot. Maximilian’s Sunflower often grows a more modest 6-7 feet in the lean, dry soils it is accustomed to, but often gets 8-12 feet in garden loam when well established. Heights of 15 feet or more are possible in high rainfall years. In such cases, it benefits from staking. It can be cut back in May or June to regrow and bloom at a lower height, if desired. It grows best in full to part sun in mesic to dry soils.
Perennial
Full sun to partial shade
Medium to dry soil
3-15' tall, will eventually form a colony about 5' wide
Blooms late summer to early fall
A true gentle giant of a sunflower. A reliable perennial species that can produce dozens of blooms per stalk. The bloom period begins in very late summer to early fall and lasts for about a month. This makes it a valuable nectar plant for fall Monarch migration. This plant is a copious producer of oil-rich seeds, often feeding birds well into winter. Host for Silvery Checkerspot. Maximilian’s Sunflower often grows a more modest 6-7 feet in the lean, dry soils it is accustomed to, but often gets 8-12 feet in garden loam when well established. Heights of 15 feet or more are possible in high rainfall years. In such cases, it benefits from staking. It can be cut back in May or June to regrow and bloom at a lower height, if desired. It grows best in full to part sun in mesic to dry soils.