Virginia ecotype
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Upright, clump-forming, colony-forming (spreads by rhizomes and seeding)
Size: Typically 4 to 10 feet tall; about 2 to 3 feet wide
Flowering Time: August to October
Bloom Color: Light to golden yellow (golden yellow rays with yellow to reddish-brown disks)
Habitat: Moist meadows, streambanks, woodland edges, low prairies, and wet fields
Moisture: Average to moist; tolerates occasional wetness
Light: Full sun to part sun
Soils: Loamy, silty, or clay soils; prefers rich, moist soils
Uses: Pollinator meadows, rain gardens, restoration projects, late-season bloom, native borders, bird habitat
Helianthus giganteus (Tall sunflower)
Helianthus giganteus, commonly known as the tall or giant sunflower, is a towering perennial native to moist habitats. True to its name, this species can reach impressive heights up to 10 feet tall when planted in best possible conditions—producing numerous yellow, daisy-like flower heads on branching stems from late summer into fall. Color of blooms varies from a light, lemony yellow to golden yellow.
Its rough-textured leaves and tall stature make it a standout in native plantings, particularly in wetter soils where it thrives without much maintenance. It spreads by underground rhizomes and by reseeding, forming colonies that are ideal for naturalizing or stabilizing moist areas.
Ecologically, H. giganteus is a high-value pollinator plant, attracting a wide range of native bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, including long-tongued bees, skippers, and beetles. It is also a larval host plant for several butterfly and moth species, including the silvery checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) and painted lady (Vanessa cardui).
After flowering, the plant produces seeds that are eagerly eaten by goldfinches and other seed-eating birds, making it an excellent addition to wildlife gardens. Its late-season blooms provide essential nectar and pollen when other resources are scarce, and its robust growth helps support the structure and biodiversity of native meadow and wetland ecosystems.