Maximilian Perennial Sunflower hundreds of Blooms 3-8? Tall Great for Butterflies and other Pollinators Non-GMO 100 Seeds

Divide every 3 years.  You can also collect your own seeds.  Goldfinches love these seeds and there are 1000's on every plant!

• This seed needs cold stratification or soaking to germinate.  May not bloom until second year. But it is a perennial and will come back yearly.

100% Pure Seed ? Non-GMO ? Fresh for Season - can be planted in Spring, Summer or Fall

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Maximilian Sunflower is a tall (3-8 feet) perennial sunflower with yellow flowers up to 3 inches across. This plant?s tubers were an important food source for western tribes of Native Americans. Found from southern Canada south to North Carolina, Kentucky and Texas, this plant tolerates full to partial sun, dry to moderate moisture, and a wide range of soils. It blooms from late August to October and flowers attract honey bees and wild bees. Serves as an important wildlife plant ? deer forage on leaves and birds eat the seeds.

A way to insure germination is to cold stratify perennial seeds.

Stratification. This is the most common way to break your seeds out of dormancy. Essentially, you are simulating a short winter for the seed by placing it in the refrigerator. Most seeds carry inhibitors that prevent them from germinating until warmer temperatures arrive in the spring. When the plant goes back to room temperature after being placed in the refrigerator, it is more likely to undergo germination. The length of the stratification process depends on your specific seed. Larger seeds often need to be placed in between wet paper towels before going into the refrigerator. For your smaller seeds, you?ll want to place them in a tray of soil.

Add Light. Some seeds need sunlight to begin to germinate. Place your seeds on top of your soil for a few days and have a little bit of patience while expecting them to begin to germinate.

Water. Soak the seeds in water overnight to soften the shell. 

We germinated them two ways. First we soaked in water overnight.  Then one batch we put on top of dirt in pots spritzing them with water and they germinated in 10 days.  Second batch in between two wet paper towels and they germinated in 7 days (see photo).

DETAILS

· Maximilian Sunflower Seeds

· Maximilian gives you the iconic color of Sunflowers but is a perennial, blooming year after year.

· This variety illuminates the garden with golden-yellow blooms all the way from summer into fall.

· Reaching heights of 3-8?, this Sunflower will quickly become the true backbone of your perennial wildflower meadow or garden.

· Like all Sunflowers, Maximilian is easy to grow and attracts pollinators all season long.

· Seeds are non-GMO, neonicotinoid-free and guaranteed to grow. Perennial.

· Finches love these very small sunflower seeds!

· Get the drama, height, and color of Sunflowers year after year with Maximilian.

· The large, sturdy green stems produce gorgeous yellow blooms in summer through fall.

· Native to prairies, this sunflower is actually great food for livestock and produces a large crop of seeds each year, making it attractive to other wildlife.

· Maximilian is named after Prince Maximilian of Germany (1782-1867).

FAST FACTS

• Common Name: Maximilian Sunflower
• Botanical Name: Helianthus maximiliani
• Seed Life Cycle: Perennial
• Light Requirements: Full Sun, Half Sun / Half Shade
• Flower Color: Yellow
• Bloom Time: Summer
• Cold Stratification: YES
• Mature Height: 39-96" tall
• Wildflower Mix or Specie: Species
• Ships As: Seed
• Ideal Region: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West, Southwest, Pacific Northwest
• Zones: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
• Non-GMO: Yes
• Soil Type: Sandy Soil, Loamy Soil, Clay Soil, Drought/Dry Soil, Moist/Wet Soil
• Soil Moisture: Dry, Average, Moist / Wet, Well Draining
• Advantages: Attract Butterflies, Attract Birds, Bee Friendly, Pest / Disease Resistant, Native, Low Maintenance, Great For Mass Plantings, Multiplies / Naturalizes

How to Sow Helianthus Maximilianii

• For successful germination, cold stratify the seeds indoors, start about 8-10 weeks before your spring frost date. 
• Put seeds in a zip lock bag with moistened seed starting medium, and store in the refrigerator for 30 days.
• Sow indoors at 55-72° (will germinate over a wide temperature range) at a depth of 4 times the diameter of the seeds
• Expect germination in 15 days
• Can be sown outdoors in early spring while the soil is still cool or in fall, up to two months before first frost
• When sowing outdoors, sow at a depth same as indoors and expect germination in 15-20 days
• When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed

How to Grow Helianthus Maximilianii

Transplanting: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves

Spacing: Space plants 2-3 feet apart in full sun in almost any soil short of water-logged

Soil: Very tolerant of drought and heat