Helianthus decapetalus
thinleaf sunflower
Family Asteraceae
About
Thinleaf sunflower is a woodland-edge perennial of eastern North America that blooms in late summer and early autumn.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Not recorded. We have no source on whether this plant is safe for cats, dogs or other pets — that is not the same as safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked.
- People
- Not recorded.
- Light
- Full sun gives the most flowers; partial shade is tolerated. General guidance for the genus
- Propagation
- Seed or stem cuttings. General guidance for the genus
“General guidance for the genus” marks advice sourced for the genus as a whole rather than this species.
Field notes
Morphology
A smooth, slender stem 0.6–2 m tall, branched near the top. Toothed ovate leaves 7–21 cm long sit on 2–5 cm stalks. Plants carry 3–10 heads, each with 8–12 rays around 21–50 disc florets.
Distribution & habitat
From New Brunswick and Ontario west to Iowa and south to Georgia and Louisiana, in woodland and forest edges, floodplain forests and riverbanks.
Ecology
Visited by bees and butterflies; a larval host for the painted lady and silvery checkerspot. Birds eat the seeds and muskrats eat and build with the stems.
History & etymology
Decapetalus means "ten-petalled", after the 8–12 rays.
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN), but can disappear locally through development, land-use change or competition from invasive plants.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- United States, Canada
- IUCN status
- Least concern
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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