Helianthus laetiflorus
Pers.
Showy Sunflower, Cheerful sunflower
gbif· cc-by-nc-nd
Melissa Hutchison
gbif· cc-by-nc-nd
Melissa Hutchison
gbif· cc-by-nc-nd
Melissa Hutchison
Description
Helianthus laetiflorus is a PERENNIAL growing to 2 m (6ft 7in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower from August to October, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies. 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 moist soil.
Edible Uses
Tubers - raw or cooked. Used like Jerusalem artichokes, to which they are not much inferior in taste though yields are lower.
Distribution
Central N. America - Pennsylvania to Minnesota.
Where It Grows
NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada, New Brunswick, United States, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Montana, Oregon, Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia, Texas,
Cultivation
Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position. Requires a rich soil. Dislikes shade. The young growth is extremely attractive to slugs, plants can be totally destroyed by them. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits. A naturally occurring hybrid, H. pauciflorus (or H. rigidus in another report) x H. tuberosus. Plants have a running root system and can be very invasive. This species is often grown as an ornamental plant, there are several named varieties.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring. Basal cuttings in spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
