SCIENTIFIC NAME: Helianthus pauciflorus ( Helianthus rigidus)
COMMON NAMES: Prairie Sunflower, Showy Sunflower, Stiff Sunflower
BLOOM TIME: July, Aug, Sept
PLANT PROFILE:
- 2-4 ft. tall, with stem that has short white hairs feeling like sandpaper.
- Yellow flowers are 3 in. across with 10-25 ray florets around red/brown disk.
- Rough textured serrated leaves.
- Forms colonies by rhizomes but sometimes colonies die off in center, leaving a “fairy ring”.
- Habitat full sun and dry conditions.
INSECT/ANIMAL INTERACTIONS:
- Flowers attract bumblebees, Miner bees, large Leaf-Cutting bees, Halictine bees, bee flies, butterflies, & skippers.
- Typical butterfly visitors include; Pearl Crescent, Painted Lady, & Checkerspot butterflies seeking nectar.
- Bees seek nectar & also collect pollen.
- Mammals that eat the seeds and/or other parts of sunflowers include Franklin Ground Squirrel, Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel, Plains Pocket Gopher, Prairie Vole, Meadow Vole, White-tailed Rabbit, White-tailed Deer, & domesticated livestock.