Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Helianthus gracilentus
Helianthus gracilentus A. Gray
Slender Sunflower
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: HEGR3
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Slender Sunflower is a tufted perennial with groups of stems rising from 2-6 ft. in height. Its leaves are lance-shaped and the 2 in., yellow, daisy-like flowers occur in profusion on long stalks.
Deer do not seem to eat this wildflower.
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: CANative Distribution: C. & s. CA outer Coast Ranges
Native Habitat: Dry hillsides; 200-6000 ft.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunSoil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry soils.
Conditions Comments: Deer do not seem to eat this wildflower.
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Description: Sow seed.Seed Treatment: No pretreatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 37 - Calscape (2019) California Native Plant SocietyWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Additional resources
USDA: Find Helianthus gracilentus in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Helianthus gracilentus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Helianthus gracilentus
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-12-28Research By: TWC Staff