Genus
Helianthus
The Helianthus genus in the Plotwright catalog — 3 species: Common sunflower, Sunchoke, Swamp sunflower. Open any for hardiness, native range, wildlife value, and growing guidance.
Helianthus annuus
Common sunflower
A fast annual for sunny edible, pollinator, and children-friendly beds with bold summer flowers and seedheads.
Helianthus tuberosus
Sunchoke
A tall, tuber-forming perennial sunflower native to eastern North America — also called Jerusalem artichoke or sunroot — grown both for its 2-4 inch bright-yellow late-summer sunflowers and its knobby edible underground tubers. Rough-hairy stems rise 6-10 feet bearing ovate, serrate leaves on winged petioles. It spreads aggressively by rhizome and self-seeding to form colonies; Missouri Botanical Garden flatly calls it "weedy and invasive" and difficult to remove once planted.
Helianthus angustifolius
Swamp sunflower
A tall native eastern + southeastern US perennial sunflower producing dense crowns of golden-yellow ray flowers in early to mid fall — one of the latest-blooming + most spectacular natives for fall color. Tolerates wet feet; among the best perennials for rain gardens + sunny moist meadows. Critical late-season nectar for migrating monarchs + other Lep.