Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Asteraceae

Genus:

Helianthus

Species:

Helianthus anomalus

USDA Symbol:

HEAN4

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Annual

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

150 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

jul,aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:

★★★★★ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, bees

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts from root crown following fire; adapted to periodic disturbance in desert shrubland habitats.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to desert sand dunes, adapted to arid conditions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Germination Time:

7–21 days

Notes:

Germinates readily without pretreatment; may benefit from light exposure during germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI