Helianthus
sunflower
6 species
2 subspecies and varieties
2 subspecies and varieties
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Helianthus annuus – common sunflower
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Fields, roadsides, wastelots, and other open areas, often where disturbed, at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native and introduced populations in Washington
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: annual
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Fields, roadsides, wastelots, and other open areas, often where disturbed, at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native and introduced populations in Washington
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: annual
Helianthus ciliaris – blueweed
Distribution: Known historically from east of the Cascades crest in Yakima County, where presumably eliminated by herbicide treatment due to it being a noxious weed; California, east across the southwestern U.S. to the southern Great Plains and Illinois.
Habitat: Disturbed, open ground in sagebrush.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: June-August
Distribution: Known historically from east of the Cascades crest in Yakima County, where presumably eliminated by herbicide treatment due to it being a noxious weed; California, east across the southwestern U.S. to the southern Great Plains and Illinois.
Habitat: Disturbed, open ground in sagebrush.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: June-August
Helianthus cusickii – Cusick's sunflower, turniproot sunflower
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Sagebrush, grasslands, dry slopes, and other open areas at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-August
Growth Duration: perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Sagebrush, grasslands, dry slopes, and other open areas at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-August
Growth Duration: perennial
Helianthus nuttallii – Nuttall's sunflower
Distribution: Chiefly east of the Cascades: Western and Mid-western United States and adjacent Canada
Habitat: Meadows and other moist places, low to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - September
Growth Duration: perennial
Distribution: Chiefly east of the Cascades: Western and Mid-western United States and adjacent Canada
Habitat: Meadows and other moist places, low to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - September
Growth Duration: perennial
• ssp. nuttallii – cordilleran sunflower, Nuttall's sunflower
Helianthus petiolaris – prairie sunflower
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Dry, open areas, often where disturbed.
Origin: Introduced from the Great Plains
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: annual
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Dry, open areas, often where disturbed.
Origin: Introduced from the Great Plains
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: annual
• ssp. petiolaris – prairie sunflower
Helianthus tuberosus – Jerusalem artichoke
Distribution: Occurring in scattered locations chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; .Washington, east to the Rocky Mountains, native from the Great Plains to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, ditches, wastelots, and other disturbed areas, where escaping from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from central and eastern North America
Flowers: August-October
Growth Duration: perennial
Distribution: Occurring in scattered locations chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; .Washington, east to the Rocky Mountains, native from the Great Plains to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, ditches, wastelots, and other disturbed areas, where escaping from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from central and eastern North America
Flowers: August-October
Growth Duration: perennial
