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Grandiflora
Asteraceae
HELIANTHUS debilis
Cucumberleaf Sunflower
Tolerant of the high winds, aerosol salt, and sharply drained soils of beach and dune landscapes, beach sunflower is a lovely, resilient perennial for sunny landscapes. It naturally occurs along coastal regions from Maine to Texas. There are also populations along the beaches of the Great Lakes. Northern seedstock is hardier than southern. There plants may be low-growing and spreading or upright in habit, depending on the subspecies. There are eight in total including the upright Helianthus debilis ssp. cucumerifolius and the low-growing, spreading H. debilis ssp. debilis, which is endemic to Florida.
It is commonly called cucumberleaf sunflower due to its rough-textured, wavy, semi-evergreen leaves that resemble those of a cucumber. Bloom time varies depending on geographic location and subspecies. Most are summer blooming, though in the south flowering can extend into fall and early winter. The sunny daisies have golden yellow ray petals that surround a reddish brown center of disc flowers. Lots of small sunflower seeds fill the dry, mature heads and are beloved by birds.
Full sun and sharply drained, sandy soil is essential for the beach sunflower. Established plants are very drought tolerant and resilient to the stresses of beach life. This is an ideal species for coastal landscapes, butterfly gardens and wildflower beds. The flowers are great for cutting and have a long vase life.
11 - 1
6 - 11
2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Perennial
Full Sun, Partial Sun
1'-4' / 0.3m - 1.2m
2'-4' / 0.6m - 1.2m
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter, Indeterminate
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Neutral
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Salt
Fast
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Clump-Forming
Summer, Fall, Winter
Showy
Yellow, Gold, Brown
Bicolor
Sandy Brown
Green, Dark Green
Yes
No
Single
Medium
Matte
Container, Edging, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Birds, Butterflies
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