Create Your Garden

Helianthus salicifolius ‘First Light’ (Willow-Leaved Sunflower)

Willow-Leaved Sunflower 'First Light', Column Flower 'First Light', Graceful Sunflower 'First Light', Willowleaf Sunflower 'First Light', Swamp Sunflower 'First Light', Narrow Leaved Sunflower 'First Light'

Helianthus salicifolius 'First Light',(Willow-Leaved Sunflower 'First Light', Column Flower 'First Light', Graceful Sunflower 'First Light', Willowleaf Sunflower 'First Light', Yellow Flowers, Yellow Perennials

Very floriferous, Helianthus salicifolius ‘First Light’ (Willow-Leaved Sunflower) is a vigorous perennial forming a compact clump of upright stems, with narrow, fuzzy leaves and large sprays of brilliant yellow daisies, up to 3 in. across (7 cm), adorned with a dark chocolate center disk. Blooming from late summer to mid-fall, the cheerful blossoms are produced in such quantities that they almost hide the foliage. Grown for its particularly handsome foliage and profuse late-season flowering, this well-behaved Willow-Leaved Sunflower is a terrific addition to the landscape. Excellent for cutting too!

  • Grows up to 44 in. tall and wide (110 cm).
  • Prefers full sun and enjoys average, medium moisture, neutral to alkaline, well-drained soils. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions.
  • Low maintenance, this is an excellent choice for beds and borders where dazzling flowers are welcomed in any color scheme.
  • Cut back old stems after flowering as they die down for the winter.
  • Any seeds produced by this cultivar will reportedly be sterile. Divide every 3-4 years to control spread and maintain vigor.

Learn How To Plant, Care and Grow Gorgeous Sunflowers


Cherished for their beauty, Sunflowers (Helianthus) are striking ornamental annuals or perennial plants grown for their colorful summer and fall blooms. Fast-growing, they can reward you with glamorous blooms between 55 and 100 days after planting. Here are some basic rules that need to be followed to enjoy their splendid flowers.

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 9
Heat Zones 6 - 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 Swamp Sunflower, Sunflower
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spread 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spacing 40" (100cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Clay Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Bees
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Helianthus (Sunflower)
Not sure which Helianthus (Sunflower) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Helianthus annuus ProCut® White Nite (Common Sunflower)
Helianthus annuus ProCut® Red (Common Sunflower)
Helianthus annuus ‘Sunrich Summer Provence’ (Common Sunflower)
Helianthus annuus ‘Sunrich Gold’ (Common Sunflower)
Helianthus annuus ‘Sunny Smile’ (Common Sunflower)
Helianthus annuus ‘Velvet Queen’ (Common Sunflower)

Recommended Companion Plants

Aster novi-belgii ‘Ada Ballard’ (New York Aster)
Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’ (Japanese Blood Grass)
Stipa calamagrostis (Spear Grass)
Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ (Coneflower)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

How to Choose the Perfect Sunflower for Your garden and Pots
10 Reasons Why You Should Grow Sunflowers in Your Garden
Companion Planting With Annuals
Edible Flowers: 16 Varieties to Beautify Your Garden and Plate
Best Annual Flowers For Your Vegetable Garden
Best Annual Flowers and Plants for Full Sun
Learn How To Plant, Care and Grow Gorgeous Sunflowers
39 Most Beautiful Sunflower Types for Your Garden
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 9
Heat Zones 6 - 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 Swamp Sunflower, Sunflower
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spread 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spacing 40" (100cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Clay Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Bees
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Helianthus (Sunflower)
Not sure which Helianthus (Sunflower) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Helianthus salicifolius ‘First Light’ (Willow-Leaved Sunflower) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Helianthus salicifolius ‘First Light’ (Willow-Leaved Sunflower) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    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.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    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.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone