FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Helianthus angustfolius is an upright clumping perennial wildflower. The attractive leaves are bright green thick and glossy. In autumn lovely clouds of golden daisies attract drifts of migrating butterflies. This late blooming sunflower extends the season of yellow flowers until frost. Plants reach a stately 6’ or taller in sunny or partly sunny moist sites.
HABITAT & HARDINESS: Helianthus angustifolius occurs in the eastern United States from New York to Florida and west to Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Distribution is greatest in the coastal plain and plants are most common in open or lightly shaded moist sites.
Habitats include floodplains, open bottomland forests, swamps, bogs, wet meadows, savannas, coastal salt marshes, wet flatwoods, pine barrens, roadsides, ditches and disturbed wet areas.
Plants are hardy from USDA Zones 5-9.
PLANT DESCRIPTION: Helianthus angustifolius is an erect perennial with sturdy green or purplish pubescent stems.
Leaves are lance shaped or linear. Blades are long and narrow. They average a 6” length with diameter of about ½”. They are sessile with no stalks. The smooth margins are usually revolute or rolled under. The leaf surface is often glossy but sometimes dull.
Stems terminate in numerous 2-3” flowerheads. The heads consist of dark globe shaped clusters of disc florets surrounded by 10-20 golden yellow ray florets.
This is the latest flowering of the sunflowers. Flowering begins in September or October and continues until frost. The starry daisies are particularly striking against the intense blue October sky.
Golden brown seed clusters follow and remain into winter to feed the birds.
Plants grow 5-7’ and up to 10’ tall with 4-6’ or greater spread.
CULTURAL & MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Helianthus angustifolius is easy to grow in sunny sites with acidic moist or wet soil.
Plants thrive in well drained loamy or clay soils. They tolerate some salt and a bit of drought after establishment.
Avoid fertilization as this leads to stem weakness. Pruning in early summer encourages stronger stems and denser growth. In garden situations, staking or other support may be needed. Or… allow nature to take its course as this gentle giant collapses gracefully under the weight of all those flowers.
Plants are pest resistant and unpalatable to deer and other herbivores.
LANDSCAPE USES: This plant injects spectacular late fall color into a Wildlife Garden or Meadow. Plants are also used as Butterfly Nectar Plants, Butterfly Host Plants or as part of a Grouping or Mass Planting. Helianthus angustifolius has Showy Blooms and is a stunning Accent for Cottage Gardens, Deer Resistant Plantings, Rain Gardens, Water-wise Landscapes, Low Maintenance Plantings, Perennial Borders and Roadsides.
COMPANION & UNDERSTUDY PLANTS: Try pairing Helianthus angustifolius with Aster oblongifolius, Hibiscus moscheutos, Monarda fistulosa, Panicum virgatum and Schizachyrium scoparium.
Helianthus decapetalus could be substituted in situations where some shade is present. The two have similar flower apprearance and cultural requirements.
TRIVIA: Native bees, honeybees, wasps, pollinating flies, butterflies and beetles seek the nectar and pollen. Plants host caterpillars of Silvery Checkerspot, Gorgone Checkerspot, Bordered Patch and Painted Lady butterflies. Seeds are relished by American goldfinch and many other songbirds.
Sometimes known as Swamp Sunflower due to its habitat preferences. In the South this species is occasionally called Mountain Daisy because in bloom it looks like a mountain of daisies.
For more information on this plant, visit the USDA PLANTS Database: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HEAN2