FNPS Plant Database

Helianthus debilis subsp. vestitus

west coast dune sunflower
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

west coast dune sunflower

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Helianthus debilis subsp. vestitus

Family:

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

1.5 to 2 ft high, may sprawl for about 5 ft from the main stem.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Blooms year round but mostly during warm months

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wildflower garden. Groundcover.

Considerations:

West and east coast beach sunflowers can hybridize, so it is best not to plant east coast beach sunflower within the natural range of west coast beach sunflower.  Inland, just both plant them within typical foraging ranges of pollinators (based on honeybees, about 2 miles).

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Not wet but not extremely dry -to- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Birds, Mammals

Primarily pollinated by bees.  

Birds and small mammals eat the seeds.

Native Habitats:

Beach dune. Disturbed areas near coast (ruderal)

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Despite the appearance of the county-based range map, the actual range is limited to the coastal areas.

Citations:

Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+). West Coast dune sunflower. Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Helidebivest ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Traas, Pamela. (2001). Gardening for Florida's Butterflies. Great Outdoors Publishing Co., St. Petersburg, FL.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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