Swamp sunflowers (helianthus angustifolius) are a wonderful bright yellow wildflower that blooms in the fall. It adds a spectacular splash of color to a meadow or garden as other flowers are fading away.
© 2012 Patty Hankins
Swamp sunflowers are native to much of the Eastern United States – their range includes states from New York to Florida, Illinois to Texas, and all the states in between.
© 2012 Patty Hankins
Members of the aster family, Swamp sunflowers have bright yellow ray petals surrounding a central disk of purplish red disk flowers. The flowers are 2-3″ inches across. The plants themselves can grow to 6-8 feet tall.
Also known as Narrow-leaf sunflowers – swamp sunflowers can be distinguished from other members of the sunflower family by their leaves and stems. The stems are greenish brown. The leaves are 2-8″ long and very narrow.
© 2012 Patty Hankins
Swamp sunflowers grow in a variety of conditions and soils. While they prefer moist soils and partial shade. They can be found growing soils ranging from sand to clay. They are often seen in bogs, fields and along the roadsides throughout their range.
© 2012 Patty Hankins
Swamp sunflowers are common throughout much of their range. They are listed as threatened in New York and Illinois. They may be extinct in Pennsylvania.
© 2012 Patty Hankins
I photographed these swamp sunflowers in South Carolina and in Washington DC. In both places, they were one of the few flowers still blooming in October. I’d love to find more of them to photograph next year.
More information about Swamp sunflowers can be found at
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
USDA Plant Profiles
