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October Blooming Native Sunflowers

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Helianthus for Halloween

Just in time for Halloween, October brings bright yellow wild sunflowers that paint the native landscape in the bold colors of fall.

Many species of this large group of native plants grow prolifically in the wild and several types are suitable for natural areas in your garden. The bonus is that the flowers and seeds will attract song birds and beautiful butterflies to your yard.

Come join us in a virtual October celebration of the natural landscape with pictures and plenty of information about these golden petaled beauties.

Contents at a Glance

Native Sunflowers of the South
Narrow-leaved Sunflowers
Large Leaved Native Sunflowers
How to Grow Native Sunflowers
Wildlife Uses of Helianthus Species
More Flower Costume Ideas for Halloween
Please Vote for October Blooming Native...

Native Sunflowers of the South

Swamp Sunflowers and Amanita Mushroom by naturegirl7

The sunflower family is the largest family of native wildflowers in Louisiana. Most of the bright gold and yellow flowers erupt in a mass of color in October at about the same time as the Amanita mushrooms pop up in the woodlands. This witch enjoys gathering photos of both.

The blooms and seeds of these hardy native plants attract many different kinds of wildlife including birds, butterflies and other pollinators. Most can be propagated by seed and / or by dividing the rhizomes.

Some of our favorites include:
Narrow-leaved Sunflowers
   Swamp Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)
   Muck Sunflower (H. simulans) believed to be a hybrid of H. angustifolius and H. maximilianii.

Large Leaved Native Sunflowers
   Paleleaf-Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus strumosus)
   Ashy Sunflower (Helianthus mollis)

Butterfly on Wild Sunflower Bud by naturegirl7

Music from Sunflower

Listen to the music of Henry Manchini as you peruse the lens.

Narrow-leaved Sunflowers

Swamp Sunflower with Goldenrod by Y.L. Bordelon

The several varieties of narrow-leaved sunflowers are large, robust beauties that blanket the fields and roadsides in fall. If you have a large garden or a natural setting, you'll want to include one or more of these sunflowers. In Louisiana, Swamp and Narrow-leaved sunflowers will put on a show in October, right before Halloween.

H. angustifolius (Swamp or Narrow-leaf) hybridizes freely with H. floridanus and other Helianthus. Muck Sunflower, (H. simulans) is believed by some to be a hybrid of H. angustifolius and H. maximilianii Muck blooms later than the others and has a wider leaf. It is more robust than H. angustifolius and can grow up to 8 feet tall here in Louisiana. The large clusters of yellow flowers with up to 23 petals (rays) and purple to yellow centers (disk flowers) often bend to the ground with the weight while in full flower.

Narrow-leaved Sunflower, Swamp Sunflower (H. angustifolius) is one of the most common fall blooming wild perennials in the Gulf Coastal region. It is characterized by exceptionally narrow leaves and will grow to 6 feet tall from spreading rhizomes. As with the other sunflowers, there is much variability.

The yellow flowers occur in large clusters and have up to 21 petals (rays) that surround a purplish red (rarely yellow) center (disk flower). Blooming occurs from August to December with the most flowers in October. Plants grow in moist to wet roadsides, ditches, flat woods, bogs and fields throughout the region.

Large Leaved Native Sunflowers

Woodland Native Sunflower by Y.L. Bordelon All rights reserved

Woodland Sunflower by Y.L. Bordelon

There are several large, oval leaved native sunflowers that will brighten up any fall garden, but identification of each can be difficult. Here are a few of the more attractive ones that we grow in our garden.

Pale-leaf-Woodland Sunflower
Helianthus strumosus
This 6 foot tall showy perennial grows along roadsides, woods and in open places throughout the Gulf Coast region. Attractive heads of yellow flowers bloom from June to September. The plants are robust and hardy and will grow in weedy, disturbed or sandy soils in the pine hills.

Ashy Sunflower
H. mollis
A perennial herb growing up to 8 feet tall from creeping rhizomes. Large golden yellow flowers bloom from June to September in prairie and pine land areas in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi.

Ashy Sunflower by naturegirl7

How to Grow Native Sunflowers

Sunflower Helianthus and Bumblebee by naturegirl7

All of these Helianthus are easy to grow perennials. Some, like H. angustifolius, prefer moist soil. They need plenty of room and will spread by underground rhizomes and by seed.

They do well in the back of a perennial border or in naturalistic settings.

To make a bushier, shorter clump, prune back before July 4th.

From Seed to Sunflower

From Seed to Sunflower (Lifecycles)

by: Gerald Legg

Amazon Price: $3.29 (as of 06/03/2012)

Mixed Helianthus Sunflower Seeds

Mixed Sunflowers - 50 Seeds, 1.5 g - Helianthus

Amazon Price: $1.49 (as of 06/03/2012)

Wildlife Uses of Helianthus Species

Gulf Fritillary on Spent Swamp Sunflowers by Y.L. Bordelon All rights reserved

The flowers are visited by butterflies and other insect pollinators. Song birds and rodents, including Goldfinches, Mourning Doves, Bobwhite, House finch, Meadowlark, White-breasted Nuthatch, native Sparrows and wood mouse eat the seeds.

Bumblebee on Sunflower by naturegirl7

Easy to Grow Southern Wildflowers

You may enjoy visiting some of our other lenses about Easy to Grow Southern Perennial Wildflowers.

More Native Sunflowers

Spider on Sunflower Postcard by naturegirl7

Dress Up as a Flower for Halloween

Child's Sunflower Costume

Wouldn't your little "bud" look darling in this for Halloween?

Sunflower Girl Infant Toddler Costume size 18-24 months

Amazon Price: $32.99 (as of 06/02/2012)

October Blooming Native Sunflowers

Helianthus for Halloween

Contents at a Glance

Native Sunflowers of the South

Music from Sunflower

Narrow-leaved Sunflowers

Large Leaved Native Sunflowers

How to Grow Native Sunflowers

From Seed to Sunflower

Mixed Helianthus Sunflower Seeds

Wildlife Uses of Helianthus Species

Easy to Grow Southern Wildflowers

More Native Sunflowers

Child's Sunflower Costume

More Flower Costume Ideas for Halloween

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Baby Sunflower Costume

Plenty of Sunflowers here

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