Maximilian Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani Schrad.)

↑Range - Expand

Legend	Color
Native
Expanded
Native or Not Present
Introduced or Not Present
Native or Expanded
Expanded or Not Present
Native or Expanded or Not Present

This tentative map is based on our own research. It may have limited data on Canada and/or Mexico, and there is some subjectivity in our assignment of plants as introduced vs. expanded. Read more in this blog post.

This species is native primarily to the Great Plains, but has expanded its range greatly due to humans. It was cultivated by Native Americans before European colonization, but its range has increased further due both to being intentionally planted, and due to the creation of more open habitats such as roadsides and pastureland. We mark all of its new range Expanded, because it is relatively extensive and mostly connected to the native range except for small gaps, except for the California population which is isolated, separated by a larger gap. The Washington State population could perhaps also be marked Introduced.