A cheerful mop of clustered golden yellow daisies crest towering, 6 ft. tall valiant stems guised with leathery needle-like rich green leaves. One of the last perennial Sunflowers to bloom, this striking American native flaunts copious large flowers, each defined by nearly 15 sun-stained petals encompassing a purplish brown cone. Hard to miss, even from a distance, the Swamp Sunflower’s brilliant persona can grace the perennial border, stylized meadow or butterfly garden, where it grows well among Asters and Schizachyrium, wards off deer and relishes sunny moist niches, but acquiesces to other conditions.

Blooms September–October

Size: 6' 0" high x 2' 0" – 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 5.

Rugged, slender and deep green, ‘Gold Lace’s fine textured leaves and strong stems frame a verdant lacy tower all season long. Magnificent, 2 in. wide golden yellow flowers burst open in such bold profusion that this undemanding U.S. native becomes the star of the late summer border, headlining an unbeatable grand finale. Adored by butterflies, gardeners and florists, ‘Gold Lace’ thwarts bunnies and dry conditions once established, doesn’t require staking or much fertilizer and looks absolutely sublime accompanying Asters and Molinias.

Blooms late September–October.

Size: 4' 0" – 5' 0" high x 2' 0" – 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Originally discovered as a chance seedling at Matanzas Creek Winery in northern California and visible from literally ½ mile away, abundant pale yellow flowers cover the upper third of this extravagant perennial. Ours bask in their glory near the pond, along with other late bloomers like Salvia corrugata and Miscanthus ‘Adagio’.

Blooms September–early November

Size: 7' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Noted horticulturist, David Salman from High Country Gardens kindly sent us this dazzling Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ and Helianthus maximiliana ‘Dakota Sunshine’ cross selected from seedlings originating at Lauren Springer and Scott Ogden’s Colorado residence. A vigorous selection for regions with short growing seasons, ‘Dakota Queen’ releases a buoyant flood of brilliant yellow daisies that crown tall stocky reddish stems clad in rough deep green linear leaves. Blooming by the middle of August, far earlier than most maximiliana species, its regal texture-rich visage is tough, reliable and capable of handling clay soil.

Blooms mid-August–early October

Size: 5' 0" – 6' 0" high x 3' 0" – 5' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Late blooming pastel yellow flowers gaze down at onlookers from atop lofty, sturdy stems. Combine with Buddleja ‘Ellen’s Blue’, Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ and tall, late Asters in the rear of the border.

Blooms early August – October

Size: 6' 0" – 10' 0" high x 2' 0" – 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

A celebrated American denizen often found in open woodlands, prairies and along roadsides, this Sunflower’s ebullient yellow face belies its resilient nature. The dense colony of upright wine-hued stems and rough lanceolate leaves can handle neglect, drought, and sun or shade.

Enticing to bees, butterflies, and gardeners alike, yellow 2 in. wide, broad-petaled and brown-centered blooms burst forth from round, spiky-looking green buds. Even though the long lasting jaunty display signals summer’s end, the good-sized chocolate-colored seed heads keep the birds happy and our interest sparked.

Blooms August–October.

Size: 5' 0" – 6' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 3.

‘Lemon Queen’s cloud of citrus-yellow daisies will quench your thirst for color and cheer, while robust columns of deep green foliage make a strong architectural statement in a border or meadow planting.

Blooms August–October

Size: 7' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

As summer fades into fall, this native New Mexican sunflower bursts into abundant bloom with gorgeous large, golden yellow flowers. Dark green, long and narrow pointed leaves create an eye-catching colonnade several months before the top half of each red-tinged, sturdy stem gives way to closely arranged, fulgent daisies. Putting on one of the latest and unequivocally finest autumn displays, regal ‘Santa Fe’ stands in sharp relief to the violet-hued Aconitums in our border.

Blooms September–October

Size: 6' 0" – 8' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Touted as one of the best late flowering perennials and considered a shining star amongst other Helianthus, ‘Capenoch Star’ headlines big-centered, large lemon- yellow blooms borne in cheerful abundance. Tidy forest green leaves bolster the sunny display, which bears some semblance to its annual cousin and looks positively radiant with a sweep of frothy white Persicaria polymorpha and Salvia ‘Blue Ensign’ in Great Dixter’s long border.

Blooms August – October.

Size: 4' 0" – 5' 0" high x 2' 0" – 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Found on prairies, dry sites and calcium-rich environs from Missouri through Oklahoma to Arkansas and Texas, this sky-bound willow-style Sunflower entertains a no-fuss, graceful flourish of pendulous, ultraslender, 7 in. long pale green leaves on smooth, staunch whitish green stalks. The exotic-looking feathered foundation boosts loosely branched racemes with copious 2 in. wide, bright yellow sunflowers that don coffee-brown centers. Adored by birds and butterflies, but not deer, Helianthus salicifolius lends flower-power galore plus lofty fine-textured accents to cut arrangements, naturalized plantings, a border’s backside and fellow late-blooming perennials such as Salvia uliginosa and Aster ‘Violetta’. A mid-spring cutback ensures a stronger, more upright habit.

Blooms September–October

Size: 6' 0" – 8' 0" high x 2' 0" – 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.