ShowySunflower

=**Showy Sunflower**=

(Helianthus laetiflorus)


The Showy Sunflower is a tall rough-leaved perennial with a few large flower heads and is found in the central United States. -1

It is also apart of the [|Helianthus] family.

The Showy Sunflower is a deciduous, clump forming perennial with very tall stalks with numerous bright golden flowers above grayish green leaves. Native of rich soils in open woods and thickets in Pennsylvania to Minnesota (USA). For any rich, well drained soil in full sun. - 4

This late blooming sunflower has one of the largest and brightest flowers of all the native sunflowers and produces seeds that birds love! Growing on any well drained soil, especially sand and clay, it can spread aggressively by rhizomes so give it plenty of competition. - 2

Characteristics
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil. - 3


 * Category:** Perennial - 2
 * Bloom Color:** Yellow - 2
 * Bloom Time:** August to September - 2
 * Light:** Full sun - 2
 * Water:** Dry to Medium - 2
 * Height:** 3 to 5 feet - 2
 * Misc:** Attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds, drought-tolerant, suitable for xeriscaping, and the flowers are good for cutting - 5
 * Cultivation Details:** Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position. Requires a rich soil. Dislikes shade. The young growth is extremely attractive to slugs, plants can be totally destroyed by them. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits. A naturally occurring hybrid, H. pauciflorus (or H. rigidus in another report) x H. tuberosus. Plants have a running root system and can be very invasive. This species is often grown as an ornamental plant, there are several named varieties. - 3
 * Edible Uses:** Includes bulbs, rhizomes, corms, and tubers which are all parts of the root. - 3
 * Soil pH Requirements:** 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) - 3
 * Propagation:** Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring. Basal cuttings in spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer. - 3

Resources:
1. http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/showy%20sunflower - This website had a good definition for a showy sunflower and what it is. 2. [|http://www.wildflowerfarm.com/index.php?p=product&id=71&parent=28]- This website has a quick summary of facts about the showy sunflower, seed germination, and other characteristics about the sunflower. 3. http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Helianthus+laetiflorus - This website gives more characteristics about the sunflower and other misc. facts about it. 4. http://www.rareplants.de/shop/product.asp?P_ID=8231 - There is a good definition of what a showy sunflower is on this website. 5. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/88281/ - This website has some very interesting facts about the sunflower and what types of soil it should be in and heights and other things as well.

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