VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Helianthus maximiliani | Maximilian Sunflower 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Maximilian sunflower is part of the tall, thick, ungrazed cover in North
Dakota that ducks and pheasants seek out for nesting.  It also provides
winter cover and its seeds are an important winter food [40].

In Montana, Maximilian sunflower is rated as valuable fall forage for
Rocky Mountain elk [25].


PALATABILITY : 
Maximilian sunflower is a palatable livestock forage of good quality,
[22], and is also used by deer [44].  It remains green after
many other forbs have matured [22], but little use is made of the
herbage after frost [44].  The seeds are choice food for quail and
dove [42], and are eaten by many other birds [44].

Maximilian sunflower palatability for livestock in several western
states is as follows [10]:

                      CO         MT         ND

          Cattle     fair       fair       good
          Sheep      fair       fair       fair
          Horses     fair       ----       good


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Maximilian sunflower energy value for livestock is fair.  Protein value
is poor [10].

The food value of Maximilian sunflower for several species of wildlife
in some western states is as follows [10]:

                             CO        MT        ND        WY

     Elk                    ----      poor      ----      good
     Mule deer              ----      poor      good      poor
     White-tailed deer      ----      ----      good      poor
     Pronghorn              poor      ----      good      ----
     Upland game birds      ----      ----      fair      ----
     Waterfowl              ----      ----      poor      ----
     Small nongame birds    ----      ----      good      ----


COVER VALUE : 
The cover value of Maximilian sunflower for several species of wildlife
in some western states is as follows [10]:

                                  ND        WY

        Elk                      ----      poor
        Mule deer                fair      poor
        White-tailed deer        fair      poor
        Pronghorn                fair      poor
        Upland game birds        fair      ----
        Waterfowl                poor      ----
        Small nongame birds      fair      ----


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Maximilian sunflower was determined by the Soil Conservation Service
Plant Materials Center in Kansas to be appropriate for use in
rehabilitation of degraded sites and for visual enhancement.  In field
tests it showed excellent vigor [21].

Maximilian sunflower has been used successfully for revegetation of coal
minespoils in Kansas.  It established with native grasses on abandoned
spoils graded to rolling topography, limed, and disced [43].

The Soil Conservation Service recommends Maximilian sunflower cultivar
"Aztec" for use in rehabilitation in southern Oklahoma, all of Texas
except the Trans-Pecos region, and eastward.  The cultivar "Prairie
Gold" has greater cold tolerance, and can be used for revegetation
farther north [44].

Maximilian sunflower is suggested for use on roadsides, in parks, for
wildlife habitat, and in establishing prairies [37].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Maximilian sunflower roots can be prepared and eaten like those of
Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus).  Native American tribes of
the Great Plains ate them raw, boiled, or roasted [28].

Maximilian sunflower was evaluated as a potential source of industrial
raw materials.  Since the natural rubbers present are of low molecular
weight, they may have commercial applications [35].

Maximilian sunflower is used as a garden ornamental [28].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Planting for wildlife:  Maximilian sunflower has been planted for cover
and as a food source for scaled quail, northern bobwhites, and mourning
doves in the High and Rolling Plains of Texas [6].  It is a good
addition to a mix of shrubs, forbs, and grasses for use as wildlife
habitat [42].

Planting for prairie establishment:  Due to its aggressive spreading,
Maximilian sunflower should be lightly seeded in prairie grass mixtures.
Optimal seeding times are November to May in the Central Great Plains,
and January to March in the Southern Great Plains.  Early planting may
aid in breaking seed dormancy [44].  Maximilian sunflower requires low
to moderate moisture and full sun [37].  It was included in a mix of
native prairie grasses and forbs used to establish prairie on previously
cultivated fields in eastern Nebraska from 1975 to 1978.  It proved to
be susceptible to herbicides, and established best when mechanical means
were used to control weeds [5].

When buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) in Minnesota was removed by cutting
and stump treatment with herbicide in 1985, Maximilian sunflower, which
had not been present, germinated in treated areas within 3 months of
initial treatment [4].

Maximilian sunflower was evaluated and grown at the Soil Conservation
Service Plant Materials Center in Kansas.  Planting procedures are
described [9].  Maximilian sunflower seed accessions are held at
the wild sunflower (Helianthus spp.) nursery of the Plant Introduction
Station in Ames, Iowa.  The collection can be used for problems in
prairie establishment or restoration [45].

Grazing:  Maximilian sunflower is not common on closely grazed ranges.
Seedlings should be protected from close use and trampling.  Moderate
grazing and periodic deferment of grazing during the growing season
enhance the persistance of Maxmimilan sunflower [44].

Related categories for Species: Helianthus maximiliani | Maximilian Sunflower