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Native Plant Database

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Helianthus petiolaris (Prairie sunflower)
Northington, David K.

Helianthus petiolaris Nutt.

Prairie sunflower, Plains sunflower

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

USDA Symbol: HEPE

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A showy, 3-5 ft. annual sunflower with many-branched, erect stems. Foliage is dark green. Flower heads grow terminally on 3-4 in. peduncles. Ray flowers are yellow; disk flowers are red-purple.

The seeds of this sunflower attract birds.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , LA , MA , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , NC , ND , NE , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , SK
Native Distribution: Great Plains, s. to TX, AZ & adjacent Mex.; naturalized eastward & occasionally westward
Native Habitat: Open, sandy prairies, plains & disturbed areas
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Not Available
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0929A Collected Oct 25, 1994 in Bexar County by Mike Fox
NPSOT 0929C Collected Oct 25, 1994 in Bexar County by Mike Fox
NPSOT 0929B Collected Oct 25, 1994 in Bexar County by Mike Fox
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

* The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Helianthus petiolaris in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Helianthus petiolaris in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Helianthus petiolaris

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-12-07
Research By: TWC Staff

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