Helianthus occidentalis - Western Sunflower - 38 Plug Tray

Western Sunflower is our shortest sunflower, producing three foot tall flowering stalks that are bare but for a tidy rosette of larger leaves around the base and a few smaller leaves up the length of the stem. The stems branch loosely at the top, each branch terminating in a bright sunflower with a yellow center and pointed rays.

These flowers have a remarkably long bloom period, supporting pollinators such as bees and flies from midsummer to fall. The subsequent seeds feed birds such as the mourning dove and goldfinch. Western sunflower thrives in full sun and medium to dry, well-drained soil. It spreads through rhizomes, but not as aggressively as other sunflowers. It is a wonderful plant for cottage gardens, sunny borders, naturalized dry prairies, and erosion control.