Q.Non Flowering Sunflower
I have a Maximillian perennial sunflower and it bloomed with three stalks the first year. They grew so tall that the stalks broke and I trimmed them back. Last year no stalks came up, only tall green foliage. (Are these suckers from the roots?) This year the same greenery is coming up. Will I ever have the flower stalks again or can I remove the plant and start something new in its place?
Maximillian sunflower spreads from rhizomes.
Here is a link about the plant and it's growing habits.
I personally removed this plant from my garden due to the same reasons you stated in your question.
Winds would break the flower stalks and my plants tended to be mostly greens with little signs of flowering.