Helianthus divaricatus
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Helianthus divaricatus var. angustifolius
- Phonetic Spelling
- hee-lee-AN-thus dy-vair-ih-KAY-tus
- Description
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The woodland sunflower is an erect, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to Southeastern Canada and the north-central and eastern United States. It is typically found in rocky or sandy woodlands, dry open sites, or thickets in North Carolina. It grows from 2 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide, with smooth, erect, central stems, sessile or short-stalked leaves, and daisy-like flowers featuring yellow petal rays and dark yellow center disks. The specific epithet, divaricatus, is Latin, meaning "spreading in a straggling manner" and refers to the plant's spreading habit.
This plant is easy to grow in full sun to partial shade and in moist to dry, well-drained soils. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and is drought-tolerant once established. Propagated by division and spreads by creeping rhizomes, and may aggressively form colonies.
This wildflower has a light green to dark purple central stem with a whitish coating and similar upper secondary stems. The yellowish-green to medium green leaves are lanceolate-oblong or ovate-oblong with entire or toothed margins. The unique features of the woodland sunflower are that the stems are typically glaucous and non-hairy, and the petioles may be absent or less than 1/4 inch in length. Large, yellow, daisy-like flowers mature in early summer and continue into early fall. The nectar of the flowers attracts a variety of pollinators, while its seeds are a good food source for birds, squirrels, voles, gophers, and mice.
Use in the native or pollinator gardens, naturalized areas, or woodland gardens. Blossoms make attractive cut flowers.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No significant insect or disease concerns. Some taller plants may require staking.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Helianthus
- Species:
- divaricatus
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern Canada & the North Central to Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- Native: Canada--Ontario and Quebec; United States--AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VT, VA, WV, and WI.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- 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. The flowers are attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. Its seeds are favored by songbirds, ruffed grouse, quail, mourning doves, and small mammals. 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:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The disk florets are followed by tiny achenes, measuring up to 2mm long. The achene is dark brown to black and is flat and oval.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Each flower measures 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter and has 8 to 15 bright yellow petal rays and slightly darker yellow center disks of florets. The florets are less than 1/8 inch long and are tubular. Light green, overlapping bracts appear at the base of the flowerhead. Blooms mid-summer to early fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are opposite, and measure 2 to 6 inches long and 0.5 to 2 inches wide. The leaves appear along the central stem and secondary stems and are lanceolate to oblong or ovate to oblong. The margins may be entire or have widely spaced teeth. The upper surface of the leaf is yellowish-green to medium green, and the undersides appear a paler shade. The upper surface is rough with a few short, stiff hairs, and the underside has soft hairs. Its unique feature is that the leaves are sessile or have very short petioles.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- This plant has a central stem that branches where the flowers originate. The stems are light green to purple or may sometimes have a dull coating of grayish-green. The surface of the stem is smooth, or it may have a few short, stiff hairs. The stem is slender and rounded. The secondary stems are similar.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Salt
