Plant Facts

Common Name: Annual Sunflower, Common Sunflower
Scientific Name: Helianthus annuus
Family: Asteraceae, Sunflower Family
Origin: Native
Duration: Annual
Distribution in United States: Throughout the country, especially in the Midwest
Distribution in Oklahoma: Throughout the state

Site Description

Soil type: All
Habitat: Waste areas, right-of-ways, and at the edges of plowed fields
Successional stage: Early

Plant Description

Leaf Type: Simple
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Shape: Triangular (ovate to cordate)
Stipules: Absent
Flower type: Disk and ray
Petal Number: 17+
Flower color: Yellow
Flower Timing: July - September
Fruit Type: Achenes
Other Characteristics:

• Alternate, long-stemmed leaves; large, broad, and triagonal
• Wide branching stems and flower heads
• Large yellow flower heads with brown centers
• Seed almost rectangular in shape but with rounded edges; fuzzy