Helianthus debilis subsp. cucumerifolius
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Cucumberleaf Dune Sunflower
Asteraceae (Compositae)
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Flower | |
| Size: | 2 to 4 ft high and equivalently wide. | |
| Life Span: | Annual to short-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Yellow with dark center | |
| Phenology: | Blooms year round but mostly during warm months | |
| Noted for: | Showy flowers |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Beach-front gardens. Wildflower gardens. Groundcover. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Seed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Seed, Specialty providers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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: | Circum-neutral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Birds and small mammals eat the seeds. | |
| Insects: | Primarily pollinated by bees. | |
| Native Habitats: | Beach dune. Disturbed sandy areas both near the coast and inland. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 8A 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| General Comments: | This subspecies has a broad distribution that extends west into Texas and north into northern New England. It is found broadly but sporatically in Florida. Our map shows where herbarium specimens have been submitted, but it should be appropriate to plant this plant almost anywhere in the northern 2/3 of the state. To avoid inbreeding, do not plant this subspecies in a common garden with either the east- or west-coast dune sunflower. |