Sunflowers, Black-eyed Susans and allies
What are they?
This cheery group of plants is an important part of the North American flora and consists mostly of yellow or orange flowers with either a yellowish or a dark brown/blackish center. Included here are a number of closely-related species, although some differ a little from the typical 'sunflower' style, with either much smaller flowers, or flowers of a different color.
Where are they found?
Members of this group are a common feature of the prairie grasslands of the Mid-west; in the Eastern States, most species are smaller and many can be found in freshwater wetland habitats. In general, larger species are likely to be found as introduced plants in grassy areas or on roadsides.
Identification
The relatively large, yellow flowers of this group are readily recognised, but many of the species have been altered in cultivation as new varieties have been created. This complicates identification, but most species can be identified so long as the leaves, stems and phyllaries are studied carefully.
Technical terms that it is useful to know when identifying this group are Phyllary and Ligule. The phyllaries are the greenish outer part of the compound head of flowers and which can differ quite significantly between two, otherwise very similar, species. The ligule is the colored part of the flower that you or I would normally call a petal. In fact, each outer flower in the compound head has five petals which are fused together at the base into a tube, then elongated out into a single, strap-like structure (the ligule).
Yellow Leaf-cup Smallanthus uvedalius
New Jersey is on the very edge of the natural range of this species and it is not clear whether current known plants are native in Cape May County, or if they come from a garden origin. A plant of shady, woodland edge. Flowers August to September. The large, almost oak-like leaves with winged stems are very distinctive.
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Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
Native to North America but in Cape May County only occurs where planted or spreading from cultivation. A very variable species with a number of different forms, including many cultivated varieties. Flowers have 10-20 yellow ligules. Flowers mid-August to September.
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orange centers |
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| with three veins |
with purple spots |
Brown-eyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
Native to North America but in Cape May County only found as a casual escape from cultivation, or where planted. Grassy fields and margins. Flowers have 8-10 yellow ligules. Flowers late July to September.
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bristly hairs |
unlobed |
Columnar Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnifera
Native to North America but introduced in Cape May County, where sometimes found as a casual of wildlfower mixes. Flowers July to September.
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Smooth Ox-eye Heliopsis helianthoides
Introduced from further west in North America. May occasionally appear on abandoned farm fields when so-called 'native' plants are sown. Flowers Late July to September. Very similar to the true sunflowers in the genus Helianthus but look for the segmented stems.
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Common Sunflower Helianthus annuus
Talk of sunflowers and everyone thinks of those big nodding heads that van Gogh painted and which provide the seed for our bird feeders. But the original, native sunflower has many heads of much smaller flowers on its stems. This species is not native in New Jersey, but often appears in old fields, roadsides and backyards, having sprouted from uneaten bird seed. Flowers Late July to October.
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wild plants |
phyllaries, drawn out to a long point |
on long stalks |
Woodland Sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
Typically found along hedgelines, field edges and wood margins. Flowers July to September. A relatively short, bushy species with rough, bristly uppersides to the leaves. Note also the short leaf petioles.
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short petioles |
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Swamp Sunflower Helianthus angustifolius
(Narrow-leaved Sunflower) An uncommon plant of wet ground, bogs and swamps on sandy soil. Flowers July to October. A relatively small species with narrow, stiff leaves.
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Giant Sunflower Helianthus giganteus
The name Giant Sunflower may seem confusing when one thinks of those artifically large beasts grown to produce sunflower seed. However, this native species of swampy ground can grow up to eight feet or more - though is often much shorter. This is the common sunflower found in wetlands around Cape May Point. Flowers July to October.
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often curved |
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stiff hairs on the veins |
Maximilian's Sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
An introduced species from further west which is occasionally grown in gardens, sometimes as a result of plants missidentified in nurseries as Giant Sunflowers. Flowers July to October. Differs from Giant Sunflower in the leaves being equally rough on both surfaces, slightly folded along the midline and generally without teeth.
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| often curved |
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bristles on both sides |
Lance-leaved Tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata
This is the common, garden coreopsis which, though native to North America, only occurs in Cape May County as a garden escape or where planted, in disturbed areas and roadsides. Flowers late May to July.
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| ligules, each with four teeth |
narrowly triangular |
overlapping |
side lobes, upper leaves simple |
Golden Tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria
(Garden Coreopsis) Introduced from central USA. Occasionally seen on roadsides or in old fields sown with 'wildflower' mixes. Flowers June to August or later. Less common than Lance-leaved Tickseed but perhaps increasing. Petals usually dark red at the base but flowers may also be all yellow.
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Spanish-needles Bidens bipinnata
Possibly native in New Jersey, but introduced well beyond its original native range. A common plant of damp, shady ground but also common on disturbed ground. Readily spread by its spiny seeds which latch onto animal fur and clothing. Flowers late July to October.
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ligules - this one has 2 |
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Small Beggar-ticks Bidens discoidea
Found occasionally in all sorts of damp ground and swamps. Flowers August to October. Outer phyllaries are generally hairless or nearly so and on average fewer in number than is the case with Common Beggar-ticks. The flower heads also appear less rounded, more parallel-sided.
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than flower head |
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Common Beggar-ticks Bidens frondosa
(Devil's Beggar-ticks) Found widely in all sorts of damp ground and swamps, and also as a weed of waste places. Can be abundant in wet, peaty ground. Flowers August to October. Rather variable in appearance, according to growing conditions.
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than flower head |
with translucent tips |
three- to five-lobed |
Small-fruited Bur-marigold Bidens mitis
(Smallfruit Beggar-ticks) A south-eastern species which only just reaches into Cape May County as its only location in New Jersey. Currently known from damp meadows at Goshen. Flowers August to September. Leaves fine, without toothed edges. Outer phyllaries long and narrow, inner phyllaries usually red-tipped. Seeds 2.5-4.5mm long.
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than inner phyllaries |
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Ozark Bur-marigold Bidens polylepis
(Bearded Beggar-ticks) Damp roadsides, ditches and wet meadows. Flowers August to October. Outer phyllaries are distinctly wavy-edged. Leaves saw-toothed.
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than inner phyllaries |
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Smooth Bur-marigold Bidens laevis
Damp shady areas and wet woods. Flowers August to October. Whole plant is hairless and the leaves are simple not lobed or compound. Leaves saw-toothed.
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than inner phyllaries |
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French Marigold Tagetes patula
Native of Mexico. A common and very popular garden plant that may occasionally be found as a garden throwout or adventive. Flowers June to October or later. Flowers may be any shade of orange or yellow and usually variously semi-double or fully double.
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Elegant Zinnia Zinnia violacea
A common and very popular garden plant that may occasionally be found as a garden throwout or adventive. Flowers June to October. Flowers may be any shade of red, orange, pink, purple or white.
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Hybrid Blanket-flower Gaillardia x grandiflora
A cultivated hybrid between two North American species, neither of which is native in our area. Widely cultivated and occasionally surviving as a short-lived perennial. Flowers June to October. Because of its hybrid origin, flower color and size of plant are highly variable.
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phyllaries |
Orange Cosmos Cosmos sulphureus
Native of tropical America. Sometimes used in municipal plantings in public places such as roadsides, but rarely persisting. Flowers July to October. Flowers usually brilliant orange but sometimes yellow-orange. Note the raised center to the flower.
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yellow-orange |
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Mexican Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
(Garden Cosmos) Native of Central America and commonly planted in gardens as a butterfly attractant and occasionally self-seeding on roadsides and field edges. Flowers can be red, pink or white, with all three colors often seen growing together. Flowers July to October (or later in mild years).
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inner ones translucent |
linear segments |
Eastern Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea
Native in North America from Pennsylvania westward, but commonly planted as a butterfly attractant and occasionally persisting for a while on roadsides and field edges. Flowers usually pinkish purple but sometimes white. Flowers July to September.
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