Western Sunflower

About Western Sunflower

Western Sunflower, also known as Fewleaf Sunflower, is a refined choice for the native garden, prized for its bright blooms and well-behaved growth habit. Staying relatively short at 2 to 4 feet tall, it is easily identified by its unique architecture: most leaves are concentrated in a basal rosette, leaving the slender stems mostly naked until topped with 2-inch wide, golden-yellow flowers. Blooming from July through October, it is a vital late-season resource for pollinators like the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly. Native to the central and eastern U.S., it thrives in dry, rocky, or sandy soils of open prairies and glades. It is an excellent source of nectar and provides high-quality seeds for finches. Its ability to form low-growing colonies makes it effective for erosion control in sunny spots. Seeds should be cold-moist stratified for 30 days (C30) before spring planting.