Family: Asteraceae
Name: Helianthus angustifolius
Bloom Time: September through the first hard frost
Flower: Bright yellow
Soil Condition: moist-wet, well drained
Light: Sun, partial shade
Height: 5-7'
Native Range: Eastern United States, including Long Island
Zone: 5-9
Photo: Habit (Beth Sutherland), Closeup (KMS Native Plants)
This native sunflower does need some room in the garden and is best at the back of the border. Its late blooming flowers are great for late season pollinators. It prefers moist to wet soil (edge of the water, not in it). It is also a keystone plant. A keystone plants provides food, shelter and places to raise young. They play a large role in supporting an ecosystem's health and biodiversity (Tallamy, 2025). This beautiful plant is also fantastic in a planter. Even the smallest garden can make a difference!
Maintenance: Cut it back by 1/2 to control height, promote more flowers and stronger stems. This should be done by July 4th and may be pinched a few times before this date.
Benefits: Drought tolerant, clay soil tolerant, great fresh cut flower, juglone tolerant, usually deer resistant, songbirds, like the American goldfinch, eat the seeds
Host Plant: Painted Lady and Silvery Checkerspot butterflies
Fun Fact: It is the latest of our native sunflowers to bloom in the garden
Companion Plants: Hibiscus moscheutos (swamp mallow), Ascelpias incarnata (swamp milkweed), Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), Vernonia noveboracensis (NY ironweed), Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower), Helenium autumnale (sneezeweed)
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