Helianthus divaricatus Linnaeus. Common name: Woodland Sunflower. Phenology: Jun-Aug. Habitat: Mesic to dry woodlands and forests, forest edges. Distribution: ME, QC, ON, and IA south to Panhandle FL, LA, and OK.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Fl7, FNA21, G, Il, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Oh3, Pa, RAB, S, SE1, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV; > Helianthus divaricatus L. var. angustifolius Kuntze — F; > Helianthus divaricatus L. var. divaricatus — F. Basionym: Helianthus divaricatus L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Helianthus divaricatus - FNA21
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Heliophily ⓘ: 6
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Emily Oglesby | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of moist to dry woodlands, forests, and forest edges and clearings.
Stems: Stems simple or branched at summit, mostly smooth, often with a whitish coating.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, spreading horizontally, sessile, lance-shaped, 2-6 in. long, with 3 veins diverging from the base, entire or toothed, rough above or on both surfaces and lower surface soft-hairy.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in terminal clusters, 1 1/2-3 in. wide, consisting of 8-15 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of darker yellow tubular florets. Overlapping, upwardly curving bracts surround the base of each head.
Fruits: Fruit a dark brown to blackish, flattened, oval achene.
Comments:
Height: 2-7 ft.
plant sale text: In late summer, Woodland Sunflower produces two-inch flowers borne on upright slender stems. Yellow rays surround a slightly darker yellow central disk. Its handsome green leaves have a sandpaper-like texture. This species is found in open rocky woods and along roadsides. It is quite drought-tolerant, once the plant's root system has gotten established. Over time, this species spreads with creeping rhizomes to form colonies. The seeds of this handsome native sunflower are a great food source for birds.
bloom table text:
description: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of moist to dry woodlands, forests, and forest edges and clearings.
stems: Stems simple or branched at summit, mostly smooth, often with a whitish coating.
leaves: Leaves opposite, spreading horizontally, sessile, lance-shaped, 2-6 in. long, with 3 veins diverging from the base, entire or toothed, rough above or on both surfaces and lower surface soft-hairy.
inflorescence:
flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in terminal clusters, 1 1/2-3 in. wide, consisting of 8-15 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of darker yellow tubular florets. Overlapping, upwardly curving bracts surround the base of each head.
fruits: Fruit a dark brown to blackish, flattened, oval achene.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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