Helianthus pauciflorus Stiff Sunflower, Prairie Sunflower PFAF Plant Database

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Summary

Perennial sunflowers have protein and oil-rich seeds. Perennial crops are being developed for their oil-seed. The Land Institute see them as part of a perennial polyculture system [1-1]. Several perennial sunflowers are being worked with including prairie natives handling boreal to warm temperate semi-arid conditions: Helianthus maximliani (Maximilian sunflower), Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke), Helianthus pauciflorus (Stiff sunflower). Less tolerant of boreal conditions but good on poor soils is Helianthus cusickii ( Cusick's sunflower) [1-1].

Physical Characteristics

Helianthus pauciflorus is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Harpalium rigidum Cass. [Invalid]. Helianthus × laetiflorus var. rigidus (Cass.) Fernald. Helianthus laetiflorus var. rigidus (Cass.) Fernald. Helianthus pauciflorus var. pauciflorus. Helianthus pauciflorus subsp. pauciflorus. Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf. Helianthus rigidus subsp. rigidus. Helianthus rigidus var. rigidus

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Oil Seed
Edible Uses: Oil

Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: protein-oil (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world) [1-1]. Perennial crops are being developed for their oil-seed. The Land Institute see them as part of a perennial polyculture system [1-1].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None Known

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

Oil

Drought-tolerant and suitable for xeriscaping. Attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife Carbon Farming Food Forest

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Management: Standard Staple Crop: Protein-oil Under Development

Climate: boreal to warm temperate. Humidity: semi-arid to humid. Soil pH: 6.1 (mildly acidic) to 7.8 (mildly alkaline). Prefers full sun and mesic to dry conditions. Soil can contain significant amounts of loam, clay loam, sand, or gravelly material. Easy to grow. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: under development. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1]. Perennial crops are being developed for their oil-seed. The Land Institute see them as part of a perennial polyculture system [1-1]. Several perennial sunflowers are being worked with including prairie natives handling boreal to warm temperate semi-arid conditions: Helianthus maximliani (Maximilian sunflower), Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke), Helianthus pauciflorus (Stiff sunflower). Less tolerant of boreal conditions but good on poor soils is Helianthus cusickii ( Cusick's sunflower) [1-1].

Carbon Farming

Management: Standard Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
Staple Crop: Protein-oil (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.
Under Development Plant breeders are actively working to domesticate these plants for cultivation, but they are not yet commercially available as crops. Examples include most of the perennial cereal grains.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

An easy plant to grow. Division. Herbaceous stem cuttings. Seed; direct sow outdoors in autumn. Self-sows freely.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Helianthus Species, Prairie Sunflower, Showy Sunflower, Stiff Sunflower.

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (New Brunswick), Saskatchewan (south), Alberta (south), Manitoba (south), British Columbia (south)), United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York (west), Vermont, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, New Mexico, Texas)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Can spread and become very aggressive.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Status: Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Helianthus annuus	Sunflower, Common sunflower	Annual	3.0	2-11	F	LMH	SN	DM	5	2	5
Helianthus cusickii	Cusick's sunflower	Perennial	0.6	7-10	F	LMH	N	DM	3	1	0
Helianthus decapetalus	Thinleaf sunflower	Perennial	1.2	2-8	M	LMH	SN	M	0	0	2
Helianthus doronicoides	Sunflower	Perennial	1.8	4-8		LMH	N	M	2	0	0
Helianthus giganteus	Giant Sunflower	Perennial	3.6	4-8	F	LMH	N	M	3	0	0
Helianthus hybrids	Perennial Sunflower	Perennial	3.6	4-11	F	LMH	N	DM	4	2	2
Helianthus laetiflorus	Showy Sunflower, Cheerful sunflower	Perennial	2.0	4-8	F	LMH	N	M	2	0	0
Helianthus lenticularis	Wild Sunflower	Annual	3.0	0-0		LMH	N	M	5	0	0
Helianthus maximilianii	Maximillian Sunflower, Maximillian Daisy	Perennial	2.4	5-10	M	LMH	N	M	3	0	0
Helianthus nuttallii	Nuttall’s Sunflower	Perennial	3.0	3-8	F	LMH	N	M	3	2	2
Helianthus petiolaris	Prairie Sunflower	Annual	1.5	3-10	M	LM	N	DM	3	1	2
Helianthus strumosus	Paleleaf Woodland Sunflower	Perennial	2.0	4-8		LMH	N	M	2	1	0
Helianthus tuberosus	Jerusalem Artichoke	Perennial	2.4	4-8	F	LMH	N	DM	4	1	3

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Expert comment

Author

Nutt.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Helianthus pauciflorus - Nutt.