November’s Native Maryland Plant
Helianthus augustifolius L.
(hee-lee-AN-thus an-guss-tih-FOE-lee-uss)
Common Name: Swamp Sunflower / Narrowleaf Sunflower
Helianthus augustifolius is one of the last flowers of the year to bloom in my garden. It began blooming in early-September and shows no signs of stopping. Planted in a spacious sunny area, protected from the wind, I’ve been watching its sturdy, narrow pubescent stems quickly grow as first the Sweet Pepperbush(Clethra alnifolia), then the Spotted Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum) and finally the Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata), lost their blooms. H. augustifolius didn’t show any sign of flowering (no buds) until well into August – I began wondering, did I make a mistake on my planting chart, is this the right plant? Well, I worried for no reason. And, once it began blooming it created dense clouds of yellow that could be seen from across the yard! The pollinators eventually migrated from the waning summer phlox and have been enjoying the nectar-rich flowers of H. augustifolius for weeks.
When people visit my garden, I often ask them to ‘look closer’ at a flower to appreciate its complex structure or to ‘lean in’ to smell its subtle scent. When it comes to Helianthus augustifolius I recommend they touch its conspicuously narrow leaves, they are unusually thick and leathery and not prone to insect damage. When growing for pollinators its best to have plants that provide food well into fall; planting Narrowleaf Sunflower will do this, and its incredibly bright yellow flowers will extend the sunny days in your garden, even as the skies turn gray. That’s reason enough to give it a try! Plant in a moist sunny area protected from wind to avoid staking.
~ Alison Milligan – Mstr. Gardener/Mstr. Naturalist/Mstr. Watershed Steward
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)