Helianthus decapetalus Linnaeus. Common name: Forest Sunflower. Phenology: Jul-Oct. Habitat: Mesic woodlands and forests, oak savannas. Distribution: ME and QC west to WI and IA, south to GA and MO.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, FNA21, G, Il, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Oh3, Pa, RAB, S, SE1, Tat, Tn, Va, W; > Helianthus arenicola E.Watson; > Helianthus decapetalus L. — F, WV; > Helianthus leoninus E.Watson; > Helianthus saxicola Small — S; > Helianthus trachelifolius Mill. — F, WV. Basionym: Helianthus decapetalus L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Helianthus decapetalus - FNA21
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: UPL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Midwest: UPL
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Gary P. Fleming
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Helianthus decapetalus, Sosebee Cove, Sosebee Cove Scenic Area, Chattahoochee National Forest, Union County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of floodplain forests, moist upland woodlands and forests, and oak savannas.
Stems: Stems simple or only branched below, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves opposite (uppermost leaves sometimes alternate), on narrowly winged petioles, broadly lance-shaped or oval, 3-8 in. long, thin or membranous, sharply toothed, rough above and light green and nearly hairless beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) solitary or in open clusters, 1 1/2-3 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 8-15 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of yellow tubular florets. Overlapping, spreading, long and slender bracts surround the base of each head.
Fruits: Fruit a dark, flattened, oblong achene.
Comments:
Height: 2-5 ft. (occasionally to 8 ft.)
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of floodplain forests, moist upland woodlands and forests, and oak savannas.
stems: Stems simple or only branched below, smooth.
leaves: Leaves opposite (uppermost leaves sometimes alternate), on narrowly winged petioles, broadly lance-shaped or oval, 3-8 in. long, thin or membranous, sharply toothed, rough above and light green and nearly hairless beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: Composite flowers (heads) solitary or in open clusters, 1 1/2-3 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 8-15 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of yellow tubular florets. Overlapping, spreading, long and slender bracts surround the base of each head.
fruits: Fruit a dark, flattened, oblong achene.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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