Summary ⁷

Helianthus maximiliani, or Maximilian sunflower, is a perennial forb that is native to North America. It was named after Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied who saw it during his travels in the region. It is eaten by many livestock and has a wide seed distribution, which is beneficial for wildlife.

Botanical Information ⁸

The Maximilian sunflower is native throughout much of the United States including New Mexico. Maximilian sunflowers have yellow petaled flowers, oblong leaves, and can grow to a height of two to eight feet tall. The flowers usually bloom during late summer to fall. Maximilian sunflowers are perennial and are found in rocky upland prairies and disturbed areas. This species of sunflower is normally found in prairie areas, west of the Mississippi River.

Ecological Information ⁹

Maximilian sunflowers thrive in habitats with generous space, and places with runoff water. They prefer clay-like soils, full sunlight, and will not thrive in shady areas. Maximilian sunflowers are allelopathic; they produce chemicals that hinder growth of nearby plants, but do not harm livestock and wildlife. The Maximilian sunflower is often used for erosion control, the growth pattern of the plant allows it to spread and form plant clusters to reinforce the soil and prevent erosion. The Maximilian sunflower is consumed by beetles, butterflies, caterpillars, bees, birds and water fowl, rabbits and squirrels, groundhogs, elk, and humans.

Ethnobotanical Information ¹⁰

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Indigenous People from North America have used parts of the Maximilian sunflower as sources of oil, food, thread, and dye. Settlers used to plant them near houses to ward off mosquitoes and put the blossoms in baths to soothe arthritis pain. (Note: Ethnobotanical reports often lack important contextual information and relevant traditional ecological knowledge.) They are often planted in domestic gardens.

Resources ⁹

Hilty, J. (n.d). Maximilian’s Sunflower. Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved August 26, 2021, from
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/mx_sunflowerx.htm

United States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Helianthus maximiliani. In
PLANTS Database. Retrieved August 25, 2021, from https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=HEMA2

United States Department of Agriculture. (June 23, 2004). Maximilian Sunflower. In PLANTS Database Plant Guide PDF. Retrieved August 25, 2021, from https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=HEMA2

Personal conversation with Amanda of Jericho Plant Nursery on 3/27/19

Personal conversation with Claire of Rehm’s Nursery and Garden Center 3/27/19

About the Author ¹⁰

Student author*: Clarissa (age 16) from The International School at Mesa del Sol

*The entries in this field guide have been edited by Yerba Mansa Project staff to ensure that they contain quality, fact-checked content and standardized formatting. https://yerbamansaproject.org/

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/5020305833/
2. (c) smwhite, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by smwhite
3. (c) CameliaTWU, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/cameliatwu/11613142645/
4. (c) chipmunk_1, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/42919152@N04/7994515280/
5. (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/5020916762/
6. (c) John Brandauer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/brandauer/37472162326/
7. Adapted by caseynm from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
8. Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helianthus_maximiliani
9. Adapted by Kiley Spurlock from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
10. Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Calflora
• CalPhotos
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Jepson eFlora
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

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