Helianthus debilis
cucumberleaf sunflower
Family Asteraceae
About
Beach sunflower is a sprawling sunflower of Atlantic and Gulf Coast dunes that can form a dense groundcover and helps stabilise sand.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Not recorded. We have no source on whether this plant is safe for cats, dogs or other pets — that is not the same as safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked.
- People
- Not recorded.
- Light
- Full sun gives the most flowers; partial shade is tolerated. General guidance for the genus
- Propagation
- Seed or stem cuttings. General guidance for the genus
“General guidance for the genus” marks advice sourced for the genus as a whole rather than this species.
Field notes
Morphology
Usually perennial but short-lived where it freezes; up to 2 m, erect or sprawling from a taproot. Leaves vary, the largest about 14 × 13 cm. Heads carry up to about 21 rays, yellow in the wild but whitish, reddish or orange in cultivars, around red, yellow or purple disc florets.
Distribution & habitat
Native to the US Atlantic and Gulf Coasts in several coastal habitats. Introduced in South Africa, Australia, Taiwan, Slovakia and Cuba.
History & etymology
Five subspecies are recognised; subsp. vestitus, endemic to Florida, is imperiled with about 22 known occurrences.
Conservation
Assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN overall.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- United States
- IUCN status
- Least concern
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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