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Helianthus microcephalus Torrey & A. Gray. Common name: Small-headed Sunflower, Small Wood Sunflower. Phenology: Jul-Oct. Habitat: Dry woodlands and roadbanks. Distribution: PA west to MI, south to Panhandle FL and se. LA.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, F, Fl7, FNA21, G, Il, K4, Mi, NE, Oh3, Pa, RAB, S, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV; < Helianthus microcephalus Torr. & A.Gray — C, SE1; Helianthus microcephalus Torr. & A.Gray. Basionym: Helianthus microcephalus Torr. & A.Gray 1842

Links to other floras: = Helianthus microcephalus - FNA21

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: UPL
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: UPL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Great Plains: UPL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 7

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image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© jtuttle, all rights reserved, uploaded by jtuttle source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alvin Diamond, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alvin Diamond source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© jtuttle, all rights reserved, uploaded by jtuttle source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward; scabrous adaxial, glandular abaxial | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© abelkinser, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© jtuttle, all rights reserved, uploaded by jtuttle source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© abelkinser, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© abelkinser, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Nathan Aaron, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nathan Aaron source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of dry woodlands, forests, barrens, clearings, and road banks.

Stems: Stems branched above, dark greenish-purple, often with a whitish coating, and smooth.

Leaves: Leaves mostly opposite, long-petiolate, lance-shaped, 3-6 in. long, 3-veined, toothed but entire near the base, thin, rough-hairy above, resin-dotted and usually short-hairy beneath.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) numerous on long slender stalks; heads 1-1 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 5-8 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of darker yellow, tubular florets. Overlapping, green, pointed bracts surround the base of each head.

Fruits: Fruit a dark brown to blackish achene.

Comments:

Height: 2-6 1/2 ft. (occasionally taller)

plant sale text: This sunflower grows in well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It will form small colonies, so plant it in a place where you have room for it to spread. Attracts pollinators, butterflies and birds.

bloom table text:

description: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of dry woodlands, forests, barrens, clearings, and road banks.

stems: Stems branched above, dark greenish-purple, often with a whitish coating, and smooth.

leaves: Leaves mostly opposite, long-petiolate, lance-shaped, 3-6 in. long, 3-veined, toothed but entire near the base, thin, rough-hairy above, resin-dotted and usually short-hairy beneath.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) numerous on long slender stalks; heads 1-1 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 5-8 yellow ray florets encircling a center disk of darker yellow, tubular florets. Overlapping, green, pointed bracts surround the base of each head.

fruits: Fruit a dark brown to blackish achene.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern United States



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