Helianthus annuus (Common Sunflower)
Also known as: | |
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Genus: | Helianthus |
Family: | Asteraceae (Aster) |
Life cycle: | annual |
Origin: | native |
Habitat: | sun; disturbed soil, roadsides, fields, waste areas |
Bloom season: | August - October |
Plant height: | 3 to 7 feet |
Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FACU MW: FACU NCNE: FACU |
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): | |
National distribution (click map to enlarge): |
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Detailed Information
Flower:
Single daisy-like flower at the end of a branching stem. Flowers are 3 to 6 inches across with 17 to 40 yellow rays (petals). The center disk is larger than most sunflowers, rarely less than 1¼ inches across, the disk flowers dark reddish brown to yellow, with yellow styles.
The bracts behind the flower are in 2 or 3 layers, generally oval with a long abruptly tapered tip, and short stiff hairs around the edges. A plant typically has 1 to 12 flowers
Leaves and stems:
Leaves are 4 to 16 inches long, 2 to 8 inches wide, egg to heart-shaped to triangular with rounded angles at the base, rough-textured on both surfaces, usually toothed edges that may be a bit wavy, 3 primary veins radiating from the base, and a stalk ¾ to 8 inches long. Attachment is mostly alternate but sometimes opposite in the lowest leaves. The main stem is quite stout and covered to varying degrees in stiff hairs.
Notes:
Common Sunflower is present in all 50 states, though only native to the lower 48, and is the plant from which many cultivated sunflowers were derived. I have mostly seen it in full sun along roadsides and construction sites, where the soil is heavily disturbed and usually dry. Common Sunflower has been labeled a noxious weedy species in some agricultural areas but modern herbicides have taken care of that. Overall it resembles Prairie Sunflower (Helianthus petiolaris) which has leaves and a center disk that are proportionately much smaller.
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More photos
Photos by K. Chayka and Peter M. Dziuk taken in Ramsey County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2022-07-29 22:16:50
This appeared in our yard and we have never had it before. It's beautiful.
on: 2024-07-11 06:40:14
Two of these plants volunteered in a full sun area of my yard among some little bluestem I planted 3 years ago. It's about 5' tall right now. No bloom yet, but its developing flower/seed head follows the sun as sunflowers do. Surprised and pleased to see this large native flower volunteer. My yard is directly under the pre-1975 dot at the far east edge of Hennepin County--as seen in the above distribution map.