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
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FACW
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Lowell Urbatsch | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something missing or incorrect about Helianthus angustifolius? Let us know here:
- Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
- If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
- Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
- Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
- Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.
Horticultural Information
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
0 unsaved edits on this page.