- 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:
County range map

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).
Have more questions on Early Sunflower?
the prairie farm FORUMWant to grow Early Sunflower?
Get a Quote
