Downy Sunflower (Helianthus mollis)
Downy Sunflowers are known for their pretty blue-grey foliage and bright 4” golden blooms. These sweet perennial plants branch out with blooms starting in early Summer on their upper half.
It’s a pollinator magnet from June thru late Autumn attracting over 73 species of moths & butterflies alone!
Plant Culture
Sun: Sun to part-shade
Soil: Well-drained average soil– happy in poor, gravelly soil too! Think roadsides & dry prairies.
Water Use: Low– drought tolerant once established.
Height: 2-4’ tall
Spacing: 1-3’ apart for air flow
Garden Buddies: Purple Coneflower, Yarrow, Blazing Star, and other prairie dwellers.
Can’t decide which native sunflowers to bring to your garden? Check out our ‘Flight of Sunflowers’
Birds love Downy Sunflowers too as both its disk & flower petals produce seeds.
Don’t forget to leave the stalks alone until Spring for sheltering overwintering insects (and food for your bird friends in Winter)
** Downy Sunflowers make a lovely addition to bouquets but leave some flowers to go to seed for feeding the birds**
FUN FACT:
Native sunflowers are actually members of the Aster Family! They are classified in the Helianthus family due to their button-like disks that hold abundant pollen & nectar for pollinators.
