Cucumberleaf sunflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cucumberleaf sunflower |
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Helianthus
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debilis
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The Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis) is a cool type of sunflower. It's also called the cucumberleaf sunflower or weak sunflower. This plant naturally grows along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts in the United States. You can also find it in other countries like South Africa, Australia, and Cuba, where it was brought by people.
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What is the Beach Sunflower?
This sunflower can live for just one year or many years. It usually lives for a long time, but cold weather can make it last only one season. It can grow quite tall, up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) high.
The plant's stem grows from a strong taproot, which is like a main root that goes deep into the ground. The stem can stand straight up or spread out along the ground. When it spreads, it can form a thick groundcover, like a living carpet.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the Beach Sunflower are different shapes and sizes. They are usually arranged one after another along the stem. The biggest leaves can be up to 14 centimeters (about 5.5 inches) long and 13 centimeters (about 5 inches) wide.
The plant has bright, showy flower heads. These can be a single flower or a small group of two or three heads. Each flower head has up to 21 bright yellow petals, called ray florets. These petals can be up to 2.3 centimeters (about 1 inch) long.
The center of the flower head is packed with many tiny disc florets. These can be red, yellowish, or purplish. While wild Beach Sunflowers are usually yellow, some special types have been grown to have white, red, or orange petals. After the flower blooms, it produces small fruits, about 2 or 3 millimeters long.
Different Types of Beach Sunflowers
There are several different kinds of Beach Sunflowers, called subspecies. At one point, there were eight different types! Today, scientists recognize five main subspecies:
- Helianthus debilis subsp. cucumerifolius - This is the cucumberleaf sunflower. It's the most common type and found in many places.
- Helianthus debilis subsp. debilis - This is the main beach sunflower type. It only grows naturally in Florida.
- Helianthus debilis subsp. silvestris - Known as the forest sunflower. This type is only found in Texas.
- Helianthus debilis subsp. tardiflorus - Called the slow-flowering sunflower. It grows from Mississippi to Florida, but only in special coastal areas.
- Helianthus debilis subsp. vestitus - This is the clothed sunflower or hairy beach sunflower. It's also only found in Florida. This type is quite rare, with only about 22 known places where it grows.
Where Does it Grow?
This sunflower loves to grow in coastal areas. You can often find it right on the beach! It can handle a bit of salty air, but not too much direct salt spray or being covered by ocean water.
The Beach Sunflower is very good at surviving dry conditions. It can also grow in poor soils, like sandy soil or soil that doesn't have many nutrients. It doesn't mind if the soil is a bit alkaline or acidic. This plant is great for attracting butterflies, and birds enjoy eating its seeds.
Uses of the Beach Sunflower
People often plant the Beach Sunflower in their gardens because it's so pretty. It's also a great choice for landscaping, especially in places with dry, poor soil.
One important use for this plant is on beaches. It forms a thick groundcover that helps hold the sand in place. This stops erosion, which is when sand is washed away by wind or water. It helps keep the sand dunes stable. The plant rarely needs extra water once it's established.
There are many types of Beach Sunflowers you can buy for your garden. Some popular ones include 'Italian White', 'Flora Sun', 'Dazzler', 'Excelsior', and 'Orion'.
Gallery
Dune Sunflowers growing in Miami Beach sand dunes (South Beach)
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Sea Grapes and Dune Sunflowers
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Dune Sunflower Closeup
