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Helianthus atrorubens

Phonetic Spelling
hee-lee-AN-thus a-tro-ROO-bens
Description

Sunflower is a herbaceous perennial that may grow 3 to 5 feet tall. The leaves are opposite with a smooth margin. White hairs extend down the margin of the leaves. The stem is coarsely hairy. Large, yellow flowers with a brown center first mature in mid-summer and continue into late fall.

Helianthus atrorubens is found in rocky, clay or sandy soils of woodlands and along road banks. It excels in open woodland gardens, cottage gardens, and mixed perennial beds and attracts bees, butterflies. Woodland birds collect the seed.  

Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating. 

 

 

 

 

More information on Helianthus.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#cottage garden#fire medium flammability#NC native#deer resistant#native garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#larval host plant#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#nectar plant mid-fall#Audubon#woodland garden#silvery checkerspot butterfly#perennial#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#cottage garden#fire medium flammability#NC native#deer resistant#native garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#larval host plant#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#nectar plant mid-fall#Audubon#woodland garden#silvery checkerspot butterfly#perennial#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Helianthus
    Species:
    atrorubens
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeastern US
    Distribution:
    It is found in the coastal states of Midatlantic to Southeastern US, the Gulf Coast, plus the inland states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois.
    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. Its seeds are favored by songbirds, ruffed grouse, quail, morning doves, and small mammals.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herb
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • 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
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    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:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    The 2 inch wide daisy-like flowers have 10-15 yellow rays surrounding a dark purple-brown disk. There are several flowers on individual 3" pedicels. Blooms from July to October
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are hairy and rough on top, pubescent on the bottom. The leaf size gets noticeably smaller as the leaves reach inflorescence. Leaf pairs appear in a whorled pattern around the stem. Petioles often have a winged appearance.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The lower stem is quite hairy, it becomes pubescent to glabrous (smooth) as the leaf pairs reduce in size toward the upper part of the stem.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Dry Soil