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Native Plant Society of Texas

Western Sunflower

Helianthus occidentalis

Other common name(s):

Fewleaf Sunflower, Naked-stem 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.

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

2
to
5
ft.

Spread

to
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Rich, Deep, Moist, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Bees

Maintenance

Drought tolerant. Has a narrow taproot with shallow rhizomes. Tolerates a variety of soils, but avoid unamended heavy clay soils. Spreads over time by creeping rhizomes to form large colonies. Divide every 3-4 years to control spread. Taller plants may need some staking or other support. Native habitat: upland prairies.

Comments

Blooms June-November. Forms a rosette of basal leaves around the base of the stalk, with 1-4 pairs of small, widely spaced leaves on the lower stem. Flower stalk terminates in 1-12 flower heads, 8-22 ray florets surrounding numerous disk florets.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Clump Division Divide mature plants so that each division has a root and a leaf bud. https://arboretum.wisc.edu/content/uploads/2015/03/PI_Sunflower-Western.pdf
Seed Stratification Seed is damp stratified by mixing it with equal amounts of vermiculite and lightly dampening in a plastic bag or container. Store this seed for 3-4 months in a cold room of 34-36 degrees F. Grown in a greenhouse. Container Type and Volume: Multipot #3, #4, or #6 are used. Cell volumes are 6, 9, and 6 cubic inches, respectively. Growing Media: Sterile, Pro-Mix PGX. Add vermiculite and perlite at a 10:1 ratio. Mix in 5 ounces of Osmocote, slow release fertilizer, 17-6-10, per cubic foot of soil. Ensure flats are tapped down to prevent settling. Total Time to Harvest: 7-11 months, depending on weather and plant/root development. Sowing Date: Three crops are started in the greenhouse with the first in late December and the last no later than the end of March. Sowing/Planting Technique: Sow the seeds by hand by broadcasting. Try to sprinkle 3-5 seeds per cell. Seed purity rates vary from year to year. Thus, it is easier to thin than to transplant. Cover the seeds to one times their depth with the same growing media. Use a dibble board or roller to gently press seed and cover soil in the cell. Set the greenhouse temperatures to be 70-80 degrees during the day, and 65-75 degrees at night. 75% germination is reached in about two and a half to three weeks. Plants must be watered by hand during germination. Set the hose on gentle shower to prevent seeds from splashing out. The first greenhouse crop will be moved to a hoop house in late January to February. To acclimate the plants, the irrigation rate is reduced to 50 ppm before moving and greenhouse temperatures are decreased to 55-60 degrees day. The second and third crops are moved directly to the shadehouse in April and May. Again, greenhouse controls and fertilization rates are adjusted in preparation for the move. Plants that reach 8-10 inches in the shadehouse will require pruning also. Harvest Date: Flats may be unplugged in October or November as long as most of the tops have died down. Seed is collected by hand. The plant flowers from approx. July through August. Seed is harvested mid to late September. After drying seed is run through a screen of 8 and a bottom screen of 1/20. This seed may be cleaned. https://npn.rngr.net/renderNPNProtocolDetails?selectedProtocolIds=asteraceae-helianthus-270
Seed No Treatment Sunflower seeds do best when planted directly into the garden after the last frost date has passed. Plant seeds 6 inches apart and 1 inch deep in a shallow trench. Sunflowers need water the most during their growth period, which is 20 days before and after flowering. Fertilizer: Sunflowers typically do not require fertilizing because they grow so easily, but a slow-release granular fertilizer can be added to poorer soils as the better the soil, the bigger the flowers will grow. Days to Maturity: Sunflowers bloom around 120 days Harvesting: In addition to storing the flowers in a vase to lighten up a room, Sunflower seedlings can be harvested once the flowers are done blooming and have spread their for culinary use. Tips: Do not grow Sunflowers near potatoes or pole beans, as their leaves, seeds and stems emit a substance that inhibits some other plant’s growth. https://www.ufseeds.com/product/western-sunflower-seed/SUWE.html?srsltid=AfmBOopWEaAMeUQ0_qzuFYyTRwybl2xWyWMPX3G4UXAT9AZxQijUG_SM

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason