Plains Sunflower is an annual native wildflower found in central and Western North America. It grows 1-3’ tall in full sun and well draining soil. Blooming yellow daisy-like flowers from roughly mid-Summer to Fall, it attracts numerous pollinators and birds who eat the seed[1][2][3].
Of all the different sunflower species one could grow, Plains Sunflower is probably the best choice for smaller residential settings. The flowers it produces look similar to it’s larger cousin, Wild Sunflower (H. annus), yet Plains Sunflower is much smaller, generally only growing one to three feet tall. This plant really maxes out stats in three categories – Showiness, wildlife value, and bloom duration. It is a natural choice when one wishes to have sunflowers but doesn’t have the space for 4-8’ tall giants that can overwhelm or dominate a space.
Even though this is an annual sunflower, that provides some benefits in and of itself. It is no secret that many perennial sunflowers have two major drawbacks for regular suburban neighborhoods. First, they are generally huge. Like, really, really big. I grow Maximillian Sunflower, and it not only reaches 12′ tall but spreads. Second, in case you missed it, but most perennial sunflower species will spread! Yes, they will send rhizomes all over your garden and yard if not contained. The annual sunflower won’t do that because it will not survive the winter. So, it only evolved to spread via seed. Now, here’s the thing. It will probably self-seed, just like it’s cousin H. annus. But that isn’t a bad thing, as I find that I just don’t really need to plant sunflowers very much. They just sort of show up on their own, and I find I can simply move them when I wish to in early Spring. But let’s go deeper into this beautiful sunflower….
Native Range
The primary native range for Plains Sunflower is in the Midwest to Western United States. It is also native in Canada from Manitoba to Alberta.
Reference Table
| Scientific Name | Helianthus petiolaris |
| Common Name(s) | Plains Sunflower, Prairie Sunflower |
| Native Range, USDA Zone | Central and Western North America, USDA zones 3-9 |
| Bloom Time | Summer to fall |
| Bloom Duration, Color | 2-months, Yellow daisy-like flowers |
| Height | 1-3′ tall |
| Spacing / Spread | 1-3′ |
| Light Requirements | Full sun |
| Soil Types | Sandy to clay loam, well-draining |
| Moisture | Dry to medium-moisture |
| Fauna Associations / Larval Hosts | Numerous bees, butterflies, wasps, birds / Hosts several moths |
Benefits
Beauty
Sunflowers are generally beautiful and Plains Sunflower is no exception. It’s golden daisy-like flowers with the intricate disc florets are gorgeous when examined up close, or from further back when planted in groupings.
Long Bloom Time
This sunflower seems to have an exceptionally long bloom time. The references state two months, but I’ve had some bloom for 4 months at my house!
Residential Friendly
The short stature of this flower means that it can fit in almost any garden,. Even in a formal mulched flowerbed with other short to medium sized plants! See images here for inspiration!
Wildlife
Sunflowers are amazing pollinator plants, as they are just so good at attracting the widest possible variety of bees. But they also bring in a lot of butterflies and skippers. And finally, like other sunflowers, finches will find the seeds irresistible!
Identification and Characteristics
Stalk
The stem is generally erect if grown in full sun and typically 18” tall. They are light green with short white hairs.
Leaf
Alternating leaves follow the stalk that are up to 6” long by 2-1/2” wide, becoming smaller as they ascend the stalk. Leaf shape can be somewhat variable in that it can be lanceolate, ovate, or even triangle shaped depending on the local variety. The edges are generally smooth and they will have prominent veins[2][3].
Flower
At the tops of stems will be 1-4 flowerheads that are typically 2-3” diameter. Now, members of the asteracea family generally have daisy like flowers that are actually flowerheads with huge amounts of disc florets and ray florets. But in laymen’s terms, they will have 10-30 petals, which are actually flowers known as ray florets. So, after the flower turns brown, there will be a seed at the base of each ray floret as well as the central disc florets[2][3].
Root
The root system will be a tap root with lateral fibrous roots.
Comparing Plains Sunflower (H. petiolaris) with Wild Sunflower (H. annus)
It can be very difficult to identify sunflowers, particularly if they are not blooming. Part of this is just due to the fact that sunflowers readily hybridize.
But I think I would have particular trouble comparing Plains Sunflower and Wild Sunflower without the blooms, as their leaves overlap in characteristics and depending on growing conditions/soil they may actually be similarly-sized. However, there is one sure way to differentiate the two, and that is by looking at the flowerheads. First, the flowerheads of Plains Sunflower are usually smaller, being only 1-3”. While Wild Sunflower flower heads are larger at 3-5” diameter. But the best way is to flip the flowerhead around and look at the bracts.
As the graphic shows, the bracts of Plains Sunflower have straight sides that taper to a point, while wild sunflower has more of a curvature/tear-drop shape. This is the absolute key to differentiating these species. For a larger version of the graphic shown, click here.
Growing Conditions
Plains Sunflower will grow best in full sun and well-draining soil. It can tolerate a variety of soil textures provided they drain. See how to check your soil drainage here. So when it comes to moisture we should consider it’s natural habitat, which is the windswept prairies of central and western North America. Thus, it will prefer dry to medium-moist conditions.
Fertilizer
You do not need to fertilize Plains Sunflower. As a native, it will grow just find without any special
How to save seed
In order to save seed from Plains Sunflower, you need to be faster than the birds. Birds absolutely love sunflowers, particularly finches, and they will gobble them up faster than you would imagine. So, provided you want to save them, as soon as the petals and flowerheads begin fade you should place a mesh bag with draw string over them. I’ve used this method many times to save seed, and it works!
There is one other consideration you should make before saving seed. And that is to consider if you have other species of sunflower nearby. If so, please note that sunflowers can easily hybridize, so the seed you save may not be what you think. But please don’t misinterpret me. I’m not saying that it will hybridize, only that it may hybridize depending on what else is growing nearby.
How to Grow Plains Sunflower from Seed
It is pretty straightforward to grow Plains Sunflower from seed. It has a cold-moist stratification requirement of roughly 30 days[4]. We can achieve this by winter sowing the seed, or cold-stratifying the the seed in the fridge.
But for planting seed, whether winter sowing or planting cold-stratified seed, simply fill a suitable container (3-4” diameter) with moist potting soil, and press the seeds in with your thumb. Lightly cover them with potting soil, 1/8” is adequate.
Place the container in a location that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. Germination should happen within a couple weeks after daytime temperatures frequently get above 60F.
Wildlife, Pests, and Diseases associations
Pollinators
Like all sunflowers, the flowers produce both pollen and nectar making it immensely attractive to bees, wasps, butterflies, and numerous other pollinators. The most common visitors would probably be bumblebees and honeybees[5], which one can readily observe from sunup to sundown on a healthy patch. Additionally this will host several moth caterpillars[6].
Pests
There are various insects that will eat the foliage, although not too much. You may notice the occasional hole or tear in a leaf, and rest assured that this is most likely from the occasional beetle or leaf-hopper. They won’t really do enough damage to harm the plant.
Deer and Rabbits
On the other hand, deer and rabbits will severely damage the plant by eating it. Given the opportunity, deer in particular will mow down patches! I strongly recommend you protect the plants with Liquid Fence, or use one of the other strategies I list here.
Disease
Plains sunflower is generally resistant to all diseases. If planted in full sun it should be perfectly fine.
Where you can buy Plains Sunflower
As awesome as this sunflower is, you’re probably not going to find a store selling plants. Not even one of the native plant nurseries we have listed here at our interactive map. You can however find seed online, and it is readily available. .
Where to buy seeds
We have ordered a variety of native flower seeds from Everwilde Farms, which you can order right from Amazon through our link on our RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS PAGE. (We may earn a small commission when you purchase through our links, at no cost to you. This helps support our website.)
Landscaping with Plains Sunflower
Plains Sunflower is small enough that it can go in almost any flower bed with full sun and well-draining soil. It is a perfect choice for flowerbeds that are completely exposed, such as near driveways or the street (aka hellstrips). Just remember, it is an annual. While it is possible that you will have enough self-seeding to keep a sustained population, it is by no means guaranteed. So, you may need to plan on germinating some each year.
Does Plains Sunflower need fertilizer?
In short, no. Do not fertilize Plains Sunflower, as the excess nitrogen may cause the plant to grow too tall, which will make it top-heavy and flop over. If you think this may be happening, you can always do the Chelsea Chop to keep it more upright.
How sunlight directions can effect Plains Sunflower
One further point that I want to make, and I feel it is very important for keeping the flower attractive, is that it should get sunlight from all directions. Why am I saying this? Well, empirically I have observed that some plants when exposed to sunlight from only one direction will inevitably lean in that direction. Sometimes so much so that it may flop over.
Final Thoughts
Plains Sunflower is a showy, beautiful, and compact version of our beloved Wild Sunflower that brings in tons of wildlife and birds. Just remember to watch out for hybridization if you are saving seeds, and it is also a good idea to germinate some each year.
But I don’t think I was exaggerating when I said this may be the absolute best annual sunflower for landscaping. It just brings a great combination of showiness, wildlife value, and compactness that few others possess. Oh yeah, and it blooms for 2 months too!
Find more native plants here
References:
[1] – Helianthus petiolaris, USDA NRCS.
[2] – Best, K, Budd, A. Common weeds of the Canadian Prairies, Canada. Dept. of Agriculture. Research Branch, Ottawa, Queen’s Printer, 1963, pp80.
[3] – Peel, Lucy. The ultimate sunflower book, London : HarperCollins, 1997, pp120.
[4] – Winslow, Susan. Native Sunflowers for Conservation Use in Montana and Wyoming, USDA NRCS PLANT MATERIALS TECHNICAL NOTE. 2014.
[5] – Hurd, Paul. Principal sunflower bees of North America with emphasis on the Southwestern United States (Hymenoptera, Apoidea), Washington : Smithsonian Institution Press, 1980, pp168
[6] – Federal Highway Administration Ecological Restoration Application (ERA).
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