Western Sunflower, Fewleaf Sunflower, Mcdowell's Sunflower
Perfect for dry soils, Helianthus occidentalis (Western Sunflower) is a showy perennial forming a rosette of large, ovate, medium green, basal leaves. Blooming for an extended period from mid-summer to fall, a profusion of elegant star-like flowers, 2 in. wide (5 cm), are borne on upright, almost naked, stems. Each flowering stalk terminates in 1-12 flowerheads that are usually arranged in a panicle. The flowers are particularly attractive to birds as they love to eat the seeds directly from the seedheads. Because of its prominent basal leaves and nearly naked flowering stalks, this perennial wildflower has a very distinct appearance among Helianthus spp. (sunflowers). Well-behaved, it is perfect for the sunny border and very effective for erosion control.
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Compositae |
| Genus | Helianthus |
| Common names | Sunflower |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Summer (Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 2' - 4' (60cm - 120cm) |
| Spread | 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing | 18" - 24" (50cm - 60cm) |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast, Midwest, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil, Clay Soil |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies, Bees |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Compositae |
| Genus | Helianthus |
| Common names | Sunflower |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Summer (Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 2' - 4' (60cm - 120cm) |
| Spread | 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing | 18" - 24" (50cm - 60cm) |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast, Midwest, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil, Clay Soil |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies, Bees |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Helianthus occidentalis (Western Sunflower) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Helianthus occidentalis (Western Sunflower) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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