Ten Petaled Sunflower

The Ten-Petaled Sunflower is related to the common Annual Sunflower, but unlike its botanical cousin it thrives in dappled shade, grows shorter, and produces multiple flowerheads year after year. Its 3-inch wide yellow flowers, which bloom in late summer, attract a variety of insects. The leaves also feed many insect species, including painted lady caterpillars. Even after the flowers and foliage fade in the winter, Ten-Petaled Sunflower seeds are a valuable food source for birds. In ideal conditions, it can be aggressive, but periodic division can control its spread. In shady or high-fertility gardens, it may flop. Cut the plant back in early summer to prevent this.

• Mature plants can be divided to control size and spread
• If height is a concern, you can cut stems of well established plants roughly in half in early summer to reduce overall height while improving bushiness