Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. Vol. 3: 485. Provided by Kentucky Native Plant Society. Scanned by Omnitek Inc.
Where Commonly Found: Woodlands, clearings and fields., CT, MA, ME NH, NY, RI, VT (rare in 4 counties, DO NOT COLLECT WHERE IT IS RARE). There are 20 some Helianthus species with yellow/gold disks in the US, so key carefully!
How to Identify:
(For unfamiliar words: Wikipedia Glossary of Botanical Terms).
Go Botany Key for Helianthus strumosus.
Minnesota Wildflower’s website description of Helianthus strumosus. For more images.
Flower Color: Gold
Flower Type: Radial petals, 8-15 yellow rays with a gold central disk, flowerheads in loose clusters at stem ends. Flowerheads are 1-1/2″ – 4″” wide, green bracts below flowerhead are equal to or shorter than disk.
Flower Time: July – September.
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite on long-stalked and narrowly branched stems. Upper leaves are sometimes alternate. Petioles are 1/4″-1″ long. Stems are smooth or slightly hairy below flowerheads.
Leaf Type: Simple, 3″ – 8″ long, lanceolate or oval, rough upper surface and often whitish downy on lower surfaces, finely toothed.
Height: 2′-6′
Seed Collection: Nutlets, mature 2-3 weeks after flowering, collect whole seed head, air dry, then separate nutlets from chaff.
Attracts: Bees and Birds
Use: Naturalizing.
Light: Sun to Shade
Hardiness Zone: ___ USDA Zone Map
Soils: Dry to Medium
Notes: Somewhat shade tolerant tall sunflower, nice in open woodlands.
Native to: RARE IN VT, native in East, Midwest and South US DO NOT COLLECT WHERE IT IS RARE: Biota of North America Program (BONAP) – North American Plant Atlas (NAPA).
Requested by Edgewood Nursery.
Northeast Wild Seed Collectors 
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