Description
**Online orders are for local pickup only at our Lake Ann location. We do not ship plants. Select your pickup date at checkout. Orders must be placed at least 1 day before pickup, and plants will be ready by 10am on your selected date.
Western Sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis) is a cheerful native perennial sunflower with bright golden-yellow blooms held above a relatively low-growing base of foliage. Unlike many towering native sunflowers, much of its foliage remains close to the ground, giving the plant an airy appearance when it flowers. It is a tough and dependable choice for sunny, dry native gardens.
Growing Requirements:
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Dry to average, well-drained soil; especially suited to sandy and rocky soils
- Height: 2 to 4 feet tall in bloom
- Spacing: Space 18–24 inches apart
- Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall (August–September)
- Hardiness Zones: USDA zones 4–8
Features:
- Golden Yellow Flowers: Bright sunflower-like blooms provide a strong burst of color late in the growing season.
- Airy Growth Habit: Tall flowering stems rise above a low basal cluster of foliage.
- Dry-Site Tolerant: Performs well in sunny, lean soils where many traditional garden plants struggle.
Ecological Benefits: Western Sunflower provides abundant pollen and nectar for native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Like other native sunflowers, it also supports specialist insects, while its seeds can provide food for birds later in the season.
Landscape Uses: Excellent for pollinator gardens, dry prairie plantings, sandy sites, slopes, and naturalistic borders. Pair it with Little Bluestem, Side-Oats Grama, Blazing Star, Butterfly Milkweed, and native asters for a long season of color and habitat.
Western Sunflower is a beautiful late-season native perennial that delivers brilliant color and exceptional wildlife value without the towering size of many other native sunflowers.
