Helianthus mollis – Ashy Sunflower

An inhabitant of dry prairies from Ohio to Wisconsin and Kansas south Texas and Georgia. This is a very distinctive species and one of our favorite perennial sunflowers. It has “broad, oval leaves covered with a coarse, matted pubescence that gives the plants an attractive, ashen look (Cullina 2000).” Like most perennial sunflowers it will run around a bit aggressively, in this case it results in open clumps that are a bit difficult to incorporate into a formal border. The flowers are full and a rich butter yellow in color. Even the unopened flower buds are somewhat ornamental as the phyllaries are quite pubescent.