Helianthella uniflora / little sunflower

Adjectives: clonal, drought tolerant, highly visible, native, showy

Also known as: one-head sunflower, oneflower helianthella, Douglas’s helianthella, Rocky Mountain helianthella
See also: Helianthus annuus / sunflower

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The little sunflower stands only about 2-3 feet tall, and a single stem is (almost always) capped by a single flower (i.e. uniflora). The flowers themselves are held erect, not hanging down (nodding) and they are pretty small for a sunflower… a 1″ disk, with rays a bit longer than the disk is in diameter.

Because the stems arise from a branching root crown, several stems are often in a cluster. The stems have short, stiff hairs.

The leaves of the little sunflower are relatively long and narrow. They have smooth edges and 3 more or less prominent veins. The lower and upper stem leaves are sessile, while mid-stem leaves may have short petioles. By and large, the leaves are opposite but may sometimes be alternate, or even in whorls of 3.

Little sunflower is pretty tolerant of grazing as it has a sturdy taproot that allows it to withstand trampling and then regrow. It is generally found on open exposures on hillsides where the soils are shallow, but well-drained. Some other plants in its community are likely to be arrowleaf balsamroot, Idaho fescue, mules ears and snowberry.