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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Helianthus atrorubens

Purpledisk Sunflower, Appalachian Sunflower

Scientific Name:

Helianthus atrorubens

Genus:

Helianthus

Species Epithet:

atrorubens

Common Name:

Purpledisk Sunflower, Appalachian Sunflower

Plant Type

Herb/Wildflower

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Invasive Status:

(*Key)

Size:

1-3 ft., 3-6 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

Yellow

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Dry, Moist

Bloom Time:

July, August, September, October

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Dry soils of rocky, sandy, or clayey woodlands and roadbanks. Common in the Piedmont and most of the Coastal Plain; fairly common to common in the mountains, except less numerous in the northern mountains. Very rare to absent in the northeastern Coastal Plain. Unlike most other sunflowers, it usually occurs as single plants or small populations.

Leaf Arrangement:

Opposite

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Important for Wildlife

Landscape Value:

Suitable for home landscapes

State Rank:

S5: Secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G5 - Secure (*Key)

Flower heads to 3 inches wide with 10-15 ray florets surrounding purple-brown disc florets with protruding bright yellow pistils.

The Scientific Name is Helianthus atrorubens. You will likely hear them called Purpledisk Sunflower, Appalachian Sunflower. This picture shows the Flower heads to 3 inches wide with 10-15 ray florets surrounding purple-brown disc florets with protruding bright yellow pistils. of Helianthus atrorubens

Will Stuart

Leaves are mostly basal, coarse, hairy with winged petioles.

The Scientific Name is Helianthus atrorubens. You will likely hear them called Purpledisk Sunflower, Appalachian Sunflower. This picture shows the Leaves are mostly basal, coarse, hairy with winged petioles. of Helianthus atrorubens

Will Stuart

A mass of Purple-disc sunflowers along Leaks Ferry Road, Pee Dee NWR.

The Scientific Name is Helianthus atrorubens. You will likely hear them called Purpledisk Sunflower, Appalachian Sunflower. This picture shows the A mass of Purple-disc sunflowers along Leaks Ferry Road, Pee Dee NWR. of Helianthus atrorubens

Will Stuart

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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