Showy Sunflower (Helianthus laetiflorus)

Other names Perennial Sunflower, beautiful sunflower, cheerful sunflower, mountain sunflower

At a glance

Lifecycle: Perennial (hardy)
Exposure: Full sun
Frost limit: −34.4 °C

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position. The young growth is extremely attractive to slugs, plants can be totally destroyed by them[K]. 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.

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.

Edible uses

Tubers - raw or cooked[55, 105, K]. Used like Jerusalem artichokes, to which they are not much inferior in taste though yields are lower.

Showy Sunflower (Helianthus laetiflorus)

At a glance

Cultivation

Propagation

Edible uses

Habitat

Native range

Same genus