Ohio Native Plant Natural Range
Visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website to view the natural range of Downy Sunflower.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources list this plant as Threatened in the State of Ohio
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources list this plant as Threatened in the State of Ohio
Cultivation Information Downy Sunflower
Perennial Native Sunflower
Height - 5 ft - Tends to flop over late in the fall - stake or plant next to a fence Flower Color - YellowBlooms - August - SeptemberSun - Sun to Part SunHardy Zone - 3 to 9Soil - Moist to Dry Perennial
Family - AsteraceaeNeeds Staking - By September, Downy Sunflowers become so heavy, they need to be tied to the fence for support
Wildlife Significance Downy Sunflower
Nectar Source - Bees: bumblebees, Miner bees, large Leaf-cutting bees, Cuckoo bees, Green Metallic bees, and other Halictid bees. Occasionally other insects visit this plant including bee flies and butterflies.
Host Plant - For the caterpillars of the butterfly - Silvery Checkerspot and Gorgone Checkerspot
Seed - For birds - Finally, I have enough Downy Sunflower plants with an abundance of seed to harvest and share with the birds.
For more details visit the Illionis Wildflower website
Host Plant - For the caterpillars of the butterfly - Silvery Checkerspot and Gorgone Checkerspot
Seed - For birds - Finally, I have enough Downy Sunflower plants with an abundance of seed to harvest and share with the birds.
For more details visit the Illionis Wildflower website
Propagation Notes Downy Sunflower
Stratifying Seeds
Collecting Seed - Songbirds gobble up these seeds in a blink of an eye. Use empty onion bags to protect seed. To ensure adequate pollination, wait until later in the fall before covering seed.
Outside - Collect seed in fall, plant in a protected flat. If the winter is warm and dry, check periodically to be sure seed remains moist.
Refrigerator Cold Storage - 30 days - Small Zip lock plastic bag with a few tablespoons of moistened vermiculite Seeds require cold moist storage in order to germinate
Outside - Collect seed in fall, plant in a protected flat. If the winter is warm and dry, check periodically to be sure seed remains moist.
Refrigerator Cold Storage - 30 days - Small Zip lock plastic bag with a few tablespoons of moistened vermiculite Seeds require cold moist storage in order to germinate
