Helianthus angustifolius - NARROW-LEAVED SUNFLOWER (SWAMP SUNFLOWER)

Valuable late bloomer, usually one of the last sunflower to bloom. Magnet for Monarchs, butterflies, skippers and moths, small songbirds feed on seeds.

Large 2-2.5" wide golden flowers, very narrow and shiny leaves.

Spreads wide - needs some room. Best in bigger rain garden, moist places, naturalistic plantings, Monarch and pollinator gardens.

Blooming Time: September - October
Size: usually 5-6’ tall x 4-6' wide and slowly spreading. In rich constantly moist soil can reach 8'
USDA Zones: 5 to 9
Culture: sun, half sun, average soil with average moisture, loam, boggy soil, saturated soil or shallow standing water, salty soils
Moisture Needs: average, moderately moist to moist/wet. established plants are fairly drought tolerant.
Origin: Helianthus angustifolius is native to the Midwest, eastern and southeastern USA, see the USDA distribution map. Where it naturally occurs in moist to wet places that include floodplains, swamps, bogs, wet meadows, savannas, coastal salt marshes, seasonally flooding lowlands,  pine barrens, roadsides, ditches and disturbed wet areas.
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: partially yes / yes
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: Monarchs, butterflies, skippers and moths, also some native bees, beetles and wasp. Host plant for caterpillars of Silvery Checkerspot, Gorgone Checkerspot, Bordered Patch and Painted Lady butterflies.
Attracts Hummingbirds: no, but seeds attract small birds like Goldfinches
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 4" deep pot

Picture copyright: Mt. Cuba

Plant combinations: Fits into bigger rain garden, or in the moist, wet, or swampy soil. Can be planted in average soil with average moisture (best, if the soil doesn't dry out much). Combine with along with Asclepias incarnata, Boltonia asteroides, Caltha palustris, Chelone, Eupatorium, herbaceous Hibiscus, Lobelia siphilita, Lobelia cardinalis, Packera aurea, Physostegia, Vernonia, and Carex (sedges) and other moisture-loving perennials. It can also be grown in a moderately moist flower bed, combined with Amsonia, Coreopsis palustris 'Summer Sunshine', Phlox paniculata, Persicaria amplexicaulis, Sanguisorba, Senna hebecarpa.