Nuttall's Sunflower

Nuttall's Sunflower (Helianthus nuttallii) is a bold, showy perennial that lights up late summer landscapes with tall stalks topped by clusters of golden-yellow blooms. Reaching anywhere from 3 to 10 feet tall, it creates a striking backdrop in native plantings, pollinator gardens, or naturalized meadows. Its late bloom time makes it especially valuable, offering nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading, and its seeds provide an important food source for birds and small mammals.

This sunflower thrives in full sun and prefers soils that stay moist into summer, though it can handle some seasonal dryness once established. Its rhizomatous growth allows it to spread into cheerful colonies, making it an excellent choice for habitat restoration and erosion control along streambanks or open fields. With its combination of resilience, pollinator value, and undeniable ornamental presence, Nuttall’s Sunflower is both a garden showpiece and a powerful ecological ally.