VA ecotype
Habit: upright, arching, naturalizing
Size: 3 – 8 ft. tall, half as wide
Flowering time: Sep, Oct, Nov
Bloom color: Yellow with dark brown centers
Habitat: Floodplains, moist open woods, bogs, coastal saltmarshes
Moisture: Average to wet, boggy to well-draining
Light: Full sun to part sun; best in full sun
Soils: Clay, loamy, sandy
Uses: pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, lake/pond edges, moist meadows, rain gardens
Helianthus angustifolius (Swamp sunflower)
The narrowleaf sunflower, also called Swamp sunflower, is a species that thrives in moist habitats such as marsh and swamp edges, wet meadows, and roadside ditches, where it can form dense stands through reseeding. This tall, vigorous plant can reach heights of 5 to 8 feet, with slender, lance-shaped leaves on long stalks.
This sunflower releases a profusion of bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that bloom, importantly, much later than most other Helianthus (sunflowers). Blooms begin near the end of summer and continue into fall. Each flower head consists of golden-yellow ray florets encircling a darker brown to purple central disk, providing a vibrant flash of color when most summer blooms have winded down.
It serves as an important late-season nectar source for pollinators, including many native bees, moths and butterflies, with Helianthus being an important food source for native specialist bees. Additionally, its abundant seeds provide a valuable food source for birds, particularly finches.
Due to its adaptability, it can tolerate a range of soil types, though it prefers moist, well-drained soils and full sun. It is drought-tolerant once established and can be used effectively for erosion control in wetland restoration projects.