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Early Sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides

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Category
Forb / Wildflower
Sun
Full to Partial
Soil moisture
Medium-Wet to Medium-Dry
Bloom time
Jun–Sep
Bloom color
Yellow
Notes
Short-lived, Aggressive

About Early Sunflower

Early Sunflower, often called Oxeye Sunflower, is a dependable and long-blooming perennial that serves as a cornerstone for any pollinator-focused landscape. Growing 3 to 5 feet tall, this clump-forming plant produces a profusion of bright yellow, daisy-like blooms from June through September. Native to a wide range across North America, it is highly adaptable to various soil conditions, from medium-wet to medium-dry. Its high nectar and pollen production make it a favorite for bees, including the specialist bee Holcopasites heliopis, and butterflies. While individual plants are relatively short-lived, they readily re-seed. It performs best in full sun to partial shade and is a sturdy addition to meadows or back-of-border plantings. Seeds can be sown directly in the fall or given a 30-day cold-moist stratification (C30) for spring sowing.

Native range

Native to 41 states:

AlabamaArkansasColoradoConnecticutD.C.DelawareFloridaGeorgiaIowaIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkOhioOklahomaPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasVirginiaVermontWashingtonWisconsinWest Virginia

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Heliopsis helianthoides

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).

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