Common Name: Ashy Sunflower, Downy Sunflower

Full to part sun, medium to moderately dry moisture level, tolerates a wide range of soils but prefers poor soil with a more alkaline pH.  3-5 feet height, blooms summer to fall, yellow flowers, spreads aggressively by rhizomes that can quickly colonize an area.

Germination Code:  C(30)

Native Region: Middle and West Tennessee

Ashy Sunflower’s name comes from the grayish appearance of the stems and leaves which are covered with lots of soft gray-green hairs.   This is a  tough, long-lived sunflower that is extremely drought tolerant once established.  Too much water will cause the flowerheads to fall over.  Easy to grow from seed.  Roots of this plant exude allelopathic chemicals that interfere with the growth of any surrounding plants. Attracts birds, bees and butterflies.