Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Country Or Region Of Origin
Eastern U.S.A.
Plant Profile: Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis
Names
Fewleaf Sunflower, Naked-stem Sunflower
Phonetic Spelling:hee-lee-AN-thus ok-sih-den-TAY-liss ok-sih-den-TAY-liss
Genus:Helianthus
Species:occidentalis
Family:Asteraceae
The Naked-stem Sunflower is a wildflower indigenous to rocky or sandy riverbanks. It can be easily recognized in its natural habitat by its rosette of stalked, basal leaves at the plant's base, along with one to four pairs of small, widely spaced leaves that lack stalks on the stem.
**Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Issues:**
For additional details on Helianthus, please refer to further resources.
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Feature Summary
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Image Gallery
Tags
#wildlife plant
#native perennial
#NC native
#native wildflower
#larval host plant
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#piedmont mountains UPL
#native
#food source hard mast fruit
#butterfly friendly
#FACU Coastal
#pollinator garden
#audubon
#silvery checkerspot butterfly
Similar Plants
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Feature Summary
Attributes
Eastern U.S.A.
AR, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
Flowers provide nectar to pollinators from July until the first frost. This is a larval host plant that supports Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis). The Silvery Checkerspot has at least 1-2 broods in the north from June-July in the deep south and Texas, they have as many as 3-4 broods from May through September.
Perennial
Fruit
The fruit which displays from August to November is considered a cypsela, which is a dry, single-seeded fruit. The yellow center disk of each flower forms a head of dry seed.
Flowers
Blooms from July to October
Gold/Yellow
Summer
Fall
7 - 20 petals/rays
1-3 inches
Leaves
Veined leaves.
Simple
Opposite
Entire
3-6 inches
Rough
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Wildflower
Herb
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Frequent Standing Water
Occasional Flooding
Mountains
Stem
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Riparian
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Small Mammals
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Image Gallery
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Attributes
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Distribution
AR, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Wildlife Value
Flowers provide nectar to pollinators from July until the first frost. This is a larval host plant that supports Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis). The Silvery Checkerspot has at least 1-2 broods in the north from June-July in the deep south and Texas, they have as many as 3-4 broods from May through September.
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Fruit
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Fruit Description
The fruit which displays from August to November is considered a cypsela, which is a dry, single-seeded fruit. The yellow center disk of each flower forms a head of dry seed.
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Flowers
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Flower Description
Blooms from July to October
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Leaves
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Leaf Description
Veined leaves.
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Whole Plant Traits
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Cultural Conditions
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Stem
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Landscape
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
