Sunflower Helianthus angustifolius
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Sunflower:
Previously known as:
- Coreopsis angustifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- hee-lee-AN-thus an-gus-tee-FOH-lee-us
- Description
-
Swamp sunflower is a native perennial member of the aster family and can be found from NY to FL to TX. It is a large perennial that can grow up to 8 feet tall with showy yellow daisy-like flowers from mid to late summer into fall. Prune plants back in June to encourage branching. It prefers moist to occasionally wet acidic sandy to clay loams in full sun. It can be grown on drier soils if adequate moisture is provided. It will tolerate part shade but flowers better in full sun. This plant is a favorite of pollinators and songbirds. There are shorter cultivars available if desired.
Use this plant in the back border of a native/pollinator garden, naturalized area, or along streams and ponds. Give it room to grow and spread and you will have a profusion of late-season flowers when little else is blooming.
This plant was selected as the 2007 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.
Insects Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Caterpillars and beetles often chew on the foliage but seldom cause enough damage to warrant management. Rust, leaf fungal spots, and powdery mildew are somewhat common. Because stems can be flimsy, plants may need to be staked, especially if planted in a windy location. - See this plant in the following landscape:
- Four-Season Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'First Light'
3-4 feet - 'Gold Lace'
Golden yellow, 5-7' tall - 'Low Down'
2-3 feet
- 'First Light'
- 'First Light', 'Gold Lace', 'Low Down'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'First Light'
3-4 feet - 'Gold Lace'
Golden yellow, 5-7' tall - 'Low Down'
2-3 feet
- 'First Light'
- 'First Light', 'Gold Lace', 'Low Down'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Helianthus
- Species:
- angustifolius
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- USA
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers provide nectar to pollinators from July until the first frost. This is a larval host plant that supports Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis). The Silvery Checkerspot has at least 1-2 broods in the north from June-July in the deep south and Texas, they have as many as 3-4 broods from May through September. Songbirds, ruffed grouse, quail, mourning doves, and small mammals are attracted to seeds so leave standing dead flowers into the winter as natural bird feeders. Members of the genus Helianthus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) accepta, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) aliciae, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) helianthi, Melissodes (Eumelissodes) agilis, Dieunomia (Dieunomia) heteropoda, Megachile (Sayapis) pugnata, and Paranthidium (Paranthidium) jugatorium.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 6 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Displays from September to November
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- A profusion of 2-3 inch flowers with 10-20 yellow narrow pointed rays surrounds a purplish-brown disk. Has hairy bracts. Blooms in late summer into fall (July-frost).
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are narrow, willowy, scratchy, simple, hairy and pointed at the tip. The leaves have three linear veins.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Green to purplish pubescent stems
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Poor Soil
- Salt
- Wet Soil
