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Helianthus angustifolius Linnaeus. Common name: Narrowleaf Sunflower. Phenology: (Jul-) Sep-Oct (-frost). Habitat: Pine savannas, ditches, marshes, other wet habitats. Distribution: Primarily Coastal Plain, from Long Island, NY south to c. peninsular FL and west to TX, irregularly inland to OH, IN, and MO.

ID notes: This plant is very showy when in flower on roadsides, especially in Oct. Very rarely the rays are reddened in the basal half (Kelley 2022b).

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Fl7, FNA21, G, GW2, Il, K4, NY, Oh3, Pa, RAB, S, SE1, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV; > Helianthus angustifolius L. var. angustifolius — F; > Helianthus angustifolius L. var. planifolius Fernald — F. Basionym: Helianthus angustifolius L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Helianthus angustifolius - FNA21

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
  • Great Plains: FAC
  • Midwest: FACW
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACW

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Lowell Urbatsch | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial of savannas, ditches, marshes and other wet habitats.

Stems: Stems branched, leafy and rough-hairy.

Leaves: Leaves alternate (upper) and opposite (lower, short-petiolate to sessile, linear, to 8 in. long, with margins curled under, rough-hairy above and pale green and soft-hairy beneath.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) solitary or in small clusters, 1 1/2-3 in. wide, consisting of 8-21 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of reddish to purplish-brown tubular florets. Overlapping, narrow, pointed bracts surround the base of each head.

Fruits: Fruit a dark brown, rounded achene.

Comments:

Height: 1-6 ft.

plant sale text: Easy to grow and extremely showy, swamp sunflower produces upright stems of buttery yellow flowers with dark centers, each flower 2 to 3 inches across. Plant it where it has room to reach its full-grown stature. Swamp sunflower makes a fine cut flower. Butterflies flock to it as a source of nectar, and birds enjoy eating its seeds. Swamp sunflower is seen growing in savannahs and wet meadows, primarily in the coastal plain and lower Piedmont. The Helianthus genus supports up to 73 lepidoptera species. 2007 N.C. Wildflower of the Year.

bloom table text: One of the last of the sunflowers to bloom in autumn, the swamp sunflower is by any measure one of the most glorious. While most common in the coastal plain in savannas and ditches, it is also seen along roadsides here in the piedmont. Growing to seven feet in height, it is covered with numerous black-eyed, yellow flowers. Swamp sunflower thrives in most soils and is considered an excellent nectar source for butterflies and the seeds are a valuable food source that will guarantee goldfinches visiting your garden.

description: Erect perennial of savannas, ditches, marshes and other wet habitats.

stems: Stems branched, leafy and rough-hairy.

leaves: Leaves alternate (upper) and opposite (lower, short-petiolate to sessile, linear, to 8 in. long, with margins curled under, rough-hairy above and pale green and soft-hairy beneath.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) solitary or in small clusters, 1 1/2-3 in. wide, consisting of 8-21 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of reddish to purplish-brown tubular florets. Overlapping, narrow, pointed bracts surround the base of each head.

fruits: Fruit a dark brown, rounded achene.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code: 2

native range: eastern United States



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