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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Helianthus argophyllus (Silverleaf sunflower)
Romfh, Peggy

Helianthus argophyllus

Helianthus argophyllus Torr. & A. Gray

Silverleaf Sunflower

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: hear3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

 

From the Image Gallery

22 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: 3 to 10 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: FL , NC , TX

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Conditions Comments: Silky silver foliage and bright yellow flowers make this a rewarding garden plant. Reseeds easily and grows quickly during warm weather. Seeds relished by finches and other seed eating birds. Bottom leaves drop as the plant grows, so looks best with other lower plants such as Pavonia or Lantana in front to hide the bareness.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Bordered patch and Silvery checkerspot
Nectar Source: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

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

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Bordered Patch
(Chlosyne lacinia)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA
Silvery Checkerspot
(Chlosyne nycteis)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1305 Collected 2009-10-24 in Aransas County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-28
Research By: TWC Staff

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