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Native Plant Society of Texas

Hairy Sunflower

Helianthus hirsutus

Other common name(s):

Rough Sunflower

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

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, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland Edge

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths, Nectar Insects

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, pocket prairies, and pollinator gardens. Rough texture of leaves and stems makes it relatively deer resistant. Works well for cut flowers. Native habitat: dry, open sites, woodland edges, roadsides.

Description

Blooms August-November. Can grow up to 6 ft from creeping rhizomes. Leaves are 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. Flowers form in solitary terminal heads or open clusters. Ray flowers are yellow and disc flowers are brownish to yellow. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus. Larval host: Checkered Spot and Painted Lady butterflies.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Helianthus hirsutus var. stenophyllus, Helianthus hirsutus var. trachyphyllus, Helianthus stenophyllus

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment You can direct sow seeds in prepared garden beds after the last frost or start them indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Sow seeds about ¼ – ½ inch deep in well-draining soil. Wait until the flower head has fully matured in late summer and dried on the plant. The petals will have fallen off, leaving behind a seed-filled disc. Cut off the flower head, leaving a few inches of stem attached. Look for plump, dark-colored seeds to ensure viability. Hang the flower heads upside down in a dry, well-ventilated area for a few weeks. This allows the seeds to fully dry out and become ready for storage or planting. Once the flower heads are completely dry, gently rub or shake them to release the seeds. Separate any remaining debris or plant material from the seeds using a sieve or your fingers. 1) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-helianthus-hirsutus/ 2) https://livetoplant.com/how-to-propogate-helianthus-plant-the-right-way/
Bud Division Use a sharp, clean knife or garden spade to divide the clump into smaller sections. Each section should have a healthy set of roots and shoots. Replant the divisions at the same depth they were originally growing, ensuring adequate spacing. Water thoroughly. Early spring or fall, when the plant is dormant, is the ideal time for division. Carefully dig up the entire clump, ensuring you get as much of the root system as possible. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-helianthus-hirsutus/

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason