Maximilian Sunflower

The Maximilian Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani). It seems White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) eat nearly anything but they will at least think twice before chomping down on this plant which has leaves and stems that are densely covered in coarse hairs.

It can be found in central and eastern North America, and grows from 3 to 10 feet tall with gray-green foliage. The nectar and pollen of these flowers attract a variety of butterflies, beetles and bees. And birds thoroughly enjoy the seeds.

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Published by

Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.