Helianthus pauciflorus
Nutt.
Stiff Sunflower, Prairie Sunflower
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Description
Helianthus pauciflorus is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Edible Uses
Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: protein-oil (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world). Perennial crops are being developed for their oil-seed. The Land Institute see them as part of a perennial polyculture system.
Distribution
North American. Widespread across the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the Great Lakes region. Naturalized in the eastern United States and in much of southern Canada (from Alberta to Nova Scotia).
Where It Grows
NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (New Brunswick), Saskatchewan (south), Alberta (south), Manitoba (south), British Columbia (south)), United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York (west), Vermont, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, New Mexico, Texas)
Cultivation
Prefers full sun and mesic to dry conditions. Soil can contain significant amounts of loam, clay loam, sand, or gravelly material. Easy to grow. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: under development. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation). Perennial crops are being developed for their oil-seed. The Land Institute see them as part of a perennial polyculture system. Several perennial sunflowers are being worked with including prairie natives handling boreal to warm temperate semi-arid conditions: Helianthus maximliani (Maximilian sunflower), Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke), Helianthus pauciflorus (Stiff sunflower). Less tolerant of boreal conditions but good on poor soils is Helianthus cusickii ( Cusick's sunflower).
Propagation
An easy plant to grow. Division. Herbaceous stem cuttings. Seed; direct sow outdoors in autumn. Self-sows freely.
Other Uses
Oil. Drought-tolerant and suitable for xeriscaping. Attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Synonyms
Also Known As
Helianthus Species, Prairie Sunflower, Showy Sunflower, Stiff Sunflower.
