Helianthus atrorubens L.

Purple Disk Sunflower; Appalachian Sunflower; Dark Eye Sunflower

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Purple Disk Sunflower is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It occurs in the northern two thirds of Alabama. Purple Disk Sunflower grows in prairies, in open pine woodlands, on roadside banks, and on rocky slopes. Purple Disk Sunflower is a perennial with a short rhizome. It has reddish purple stems up to three feet in height from a basal rosette of leaves. The stems are villous (covered in soft shaggy hairs) towards the base and become less hairy towards the top. Leaves are basal and cauline. The basal leaves form a rosette. Basal leaves are petiolate (with winged petioles), ovate to lanceolate in outline, with crenate or serrate margins. The leaves are pubescent and rough to the touch on both surfaces. A few pairs of opposite, much reduced leaves are located on the stems. The stems may branch near the top. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads have 10-15 yellow ray flowers that are relatively long and narrow for a sunflower. The disc flowers are reddish brown. The fruit is an achene. Purple Disk Sunflower flowers in the late summer and autumn. It is sometimes available through wildflower nurseries, or it can be grown from seed. Purple Disk Sunflower prefers full or partial sun and a clay soil. Once established, it is drought tolerant. Purple Disk Sunflower can be planted at the back and edges of perennial beds, and works well in meadows or on banks that are hard to mow.--A. Diamond

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Native

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