Helianthus Species, Mountain Sunflower, Narrow-Leaved Sunflower, Swamp Sunflower

There seem to be several varieties or hybrids of swamp sunflower.
I think the true swamp sunflower has VERY narrow leaves ( ~1/8 ...Read Moreinch).
I also have some that have wider leaves (~3/4inch). Some types will have one and only one flower at the end of each stem, others have branching , with
Several flowers. There is even a very pale yellow form ( named " moon- beam") I think. I have to keep them in pots sitting In tubs of water, as I garden in a very dry location. They would never survive in the ground here.
But beware....a lot of perennial sunflower species , Including Jerusalem artichokes will become invasive. Every little piece of root left in the ground will grow a new plant.

From one tiny "stick" given to me by a guy at Crosby Arboretum in Oct. 2011, it grew to a massive (8 ft. tall) behemoth clump in under 2 ...Read Moreyears. I had to tear it out because it looked so ugly and raggedy. What I mean by this is that as each stalk grows to ridiculous heights, they end up collapsing outward since the roots are so tiny (about 8" deep & wide under each 8' stalk). It's a catch-22 because if you water it more, it'll have less of a withered, raggedy look, but it will grow larger and topple outward more. (I planted it in the lowest part of my backyard here in south Louisiana. In other words, paradise for this species.) The plant is covered in tiny sharp hairs that slice your skin up like razors, so wear long sleeves and gloves when tending to it. In fact, wear cheapo cotton gloves, because they will end up being stained green by the plant's juices, and the green does not come out or clothing, nor from your hands. I want to give this species a negative, but I'll settle for a neutral. Grow it for one year then go medeival on it to keep it very small; or just remove it altogether. I'm waiting until someone develops a dwarf variety.

Update, summer 2014: Well, I had cut it down, but it grew back! And I must say I'm glad it did, because I've had a change of heart about it and have been giving away pups from it like candy. I now make sure to keep my main bush trimmed to about 4-5 feet tall and wide, and it's easy to simply yank up some pups after a rain since the roots are so shallow. So I guess I'll be giving them away in perpetuity, and I also plan to do some guerrilla gardening in some nearby swamps. (Meaning: Planting some to establish local populations and hopefully watch them spread.) I also planted one near the front entrance of Grow Dat in New Orleans' City Park, if anyone wants to go check it out.

I started with 4 plants given to me by a neighbor 4 years ago and I now have hundreds of stalks of the swamp sunflower. I love them when ...Read Morethey're blooming and the bees and birds are stopping by, but man, are they invasive! I do absolutely nothing by the way of caring for them: no extra watering, fertalizing them, nothing except cutting them down in the winter and trying to get rid of the ones that have spread into the yard. And that doesn't work very well. They get the full morning sun, are in open yard, and have lived through drought and super rains. Until I got this month's Southern Living I had no idea even of the name. Found this site and have read all comments, etc. I'd like to know if anyone has them under the eaves of the house where they'd get practically not water. I'm a lazy gardener and like things that bloom, smell, and take minumium care. Any suggestions, anyone?

This is a nice late season bloomer that brings color to the fall. My Mother has a single plant that is taller than the eves of her house...Read More and is in full bloom this year (2009) in the middle of October. It is facing the south sun and came up voluntarily a couple of years ago. I am posting a picture of it.
Thanks, Barbara