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Hairy Sunflower

Helianthus hirsutus

Other common name(s):

Rough Sunflower

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain
Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands
Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

3
to
5
ft.

Spread

2
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Moist, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects, Moths, Bees

Maintenance

Hairy Sunflower is an open land and open forest species, generally on drier soils. Self-seeds and spreads via rhizomes so give lots of space, or thin plants as needed. Perfect for wildflower meadows and pocket prairies, and pollinator gardens. Rough texture of leaves and stems makes it relatively deer resistant. Works well for cut flowers. Propagation: Root division, Seed.

Comments

Blooms August-November. Can grow up to 6 ft from creeping rhizomes. Leaves finely toothed, up to 6 inches long, tapering to a fine point at the end. Stems and leaves are densely hairy and rough feeling, giving the plant its name. Solitary terminal flower heads or appearing as open clusters. Ray flowers are yellow and disc flowers are brownish to yellow. As with other plants in the Helianthus genus, it attracts pollinators, and is especially beneficial to bees. Birds love the seeds. Larval Host: Checkered Spot and Painted Lady butterflies.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Helianthus hirsutus var. stenophyllus, Helianthus hirsutus var. trachyphyllus, Helianthus stenophyllus

References

1) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=36646#null; 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HEHI2; 3) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=3306&locationType=County&mapType=Normal; 4) https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/helianthus_hirsutus.shtml; 5) https://ecoblossom.com/products/hairy-sunflower-helianthus-hirsutus, 6) https://busybeenurseryandconsulting.com/rough-sunflower-description/

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Contact a local Chapter

State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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