Description General: Aster Family (Asteraceae). This native perennial has a stout, rhizomatous root system. It grows from 0.9 m to 2.5 m tall with stems occurring singly or in clusters. The central stem is stout, light green to light red, and covered with short, dense white hairs. Leaves are alternate, up to 30 cm long and 5 cm wide, sessile, narrowly lance-shaped, and folded upward from the central vein. Leaf surfaces are covered with white hairs; margins are smooth or loosely toothed. Short inflorescence stalks emerge from the leaf axils, bearing one composite flower head and one to two leaves. Each inflorescence has two pale green bracts at its base, is 5 to 7 cm in diameter, and has 20 to 40 yellow ray flowers and many yellow disc flowers. Flowering occurs in September and early October. Fruits are achenes that ripen in October and November and are wind or animal dispersed. The characteristic that distinguishes Maximilian sunflower from other Helianthus species is the grayish appearance given off by dense white hairs on the plant. USDA plant guide (click)