Helianthus debilis subsp. debilis
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East Coast Dune Sunflower
Asteraceae (Compositae)
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Shrub | |
| Size: | 1.0 to 2.5 ft tall by 2.0 to 8.0 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Short-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Yellow | |
| Phenology: | Deciduous. Perennial but often short lived. Blooms most of the year in its natural range. | |
| Noted for: | Showy flowers, Interesting foliage |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Ground cover in sandy, open environments. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considerations: | Aggressively self-seeds, can be a nuisance in the wrong situation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Self-seeds, seeds can easily be collected from deadheads. East coast dune sunflower can also be propagated using cuttings. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Seed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | 5.2 to 7.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Seeds eaten by birds and small mammals. When full grown, provides a thicket for protection of small birds and animals. | |
| Insects: | Primarily pollinated by bees. | |
| Native Habitats: | Beach dunes, coastal grasslands, sandhill, and scrub |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| General Comments: | To avoid introgression with other H. debilis subspecies, do not grow them in a common garden. |