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Swamp sunflower
Habit (mature) · Choess / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
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Swamp sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius
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.
Native: 24 US states
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: broad (75/100)
Pollinator
Focal point
Light
Full sun
Water
Consistent moisture
Mature size
60-96" tall · 30" apart
Hardy in zones
5a-9b
very cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Hot
cool to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
Yes
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Heat and sun protection
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Drainage and aeration
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Native across 24 US states and Canadian provinces — a wide-ranging part of North America's plant communities.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Appears in collections
+5
Collection · 9 plants
Native pollinator border (eastern US)
A continuous-bloom native pollinator strip for eastern North America. Covers spring through frost with host + nectar plants spanning monarchs, native bees, hummingbirds, and specialist Lepidoptera. Little bluestem provides the matrix grass + Hesperiidae host.
Butterfly weed
Common milkweed
Purple coneflower
Wild bergamot
Scarlet bee balm
Little bluestem
Sweet Joe-Pye weed
Swamp sunflower
Smooth blue aster
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/swamp-sunflower
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
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