Helianthella quinquernervis

Here is another cousin of the sunflower, which is a perennial that never fails. Helianthella quinquenervis, called small sunflower with five veins, forms a generous clump made up of sturdy herbaceous stems, with a somewhat loose habit, that is covered from summer to autumn, more or less late depending on the regions, with large pale yellow daisies. Vigorous, bright, but never invasive, it tolerates all climates, all soils, and only requires sunlight to flourish.

Helianthella quinquenervis belongs to the large Asteraceae family. It is in the western United States, in the Rocky Mountains of New Mexico, that this plant finds its origin. There, it grows in humid meadows, pine or oak forests at an altitude between 1400 and 4000 metres (4593 and 13123 feet). This large perennial develops from a non-running woody stump, equipped with a taproot. It spreads slowly to form a clump 50 to 200cm (20 to 79in) tall (depending on cultivation conditions) and 50 to 70cm (20 to 28in) wide, made up of upright and straight stems. The flowering lasts about a month, occurring from June to October depending on the region. The single flowers are long-pedunculate, pendulous, and measure about 10cm (4in) in diameter, with a very bright pale yellow colour. The central disc is darker and measures 2 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. The deciduous dark green foliage is carried by non-branched stems. The leaves are opposite, elliptical, lanceolate, pointed, and can measure up to 50cm (20in) long, with 5 well-visible veins. The basal leaves are long-pedunculate, and the cauline leaves are sessile. The foliage takes on beautiful reddish colours in autumn.

Helianthella quinquenervis is an excellent perennial, very accommodating and adaptable. It will be more or less tall, will flower more or less early depending on the location or geographical area where it grows, but always present. It is a plant that condemns you to succeed! Its late flowering provides material for subtle associations with blue asters. Plant this 'small' sunflower with impetuous tall perennials, such as Verbena bonariensis, Turbinellus aster, bronze fennel, Cynara cardunculus, bear's breeches, and Giant feather grass in dry soil, or with officinal angelica, tall meadow-rues, Shasta daisies, Sarabande Chinese silver grass, or tall goldenrod in cooler soil.