Maximilian Perennial Sunflower brings late-season brightness to the fall garden, delivering reliable blooms from mid-summer through frost in zones 3 to 9. This open-pollinated perennial reaches maturity in 125 to 140 days, offering gardeners a dependable source of cut flowers when most annuals have faded. Its compact growth habit makes it manageable in borders and containers, while its frost-hardy nature means you can count on it returning year after year. The Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog describes it simply as 'summer sunshine for late fall,' capturing its role as a golden beacon when the garden needs it most.
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3-9
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Low
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Golden blooms arriving in late fall when the garden is winding down, this perennial sunflower earns its keep through persistence and reliability. Hardy to zone 3, it winters over dependably and flowers for months on end, giving cut flower enthusiasts an extended season of fresh stems. The compact growth habit means you're not wrestling with sprawling plants, and its open-pollinated nature means you can save seed year after year if you choose.
Maximilian Perennial Sunflower shines as a cut flower, offering gardeners fresh stems for arrangements from late summer well into fall. Its extended bloom window makes it particularly valuable when other cut flower sources are depleting as temperatures drop.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
For transplants, sow seeds 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date. Sow seeds in cell packs or individual containers, keeping soil warm. When the first true leaves emerge, these seedlings are ready to be handled. Harden off transplants gradually over 7 to 10 days before moving them outdoors.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden after your last frost has passed. Space plants 18 inches apart in full sun with well-draining soil adjusted to a pH between 6.0 and 8.0.
Direct sow seeds after the last frost date when soil temperature reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).
For cut flowers, harvest stems when approximately one-quarter to one-third of the flowers along the stem are open. This timing ensures the blooms will continue opening in the vase, extending their display life. Cut in the early morning when stems are fully hydrated for the longest vase life.
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