Bloomipedia
Sunflowers (Helianthus)
Photo: Ali Campbell via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Sunflowers

Helianthus

Sunflowers (Helianthus) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–October across the U.S.

★ Official state flower of Kansas (1903)Native in the lower 48

Sunflowers is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Kansas it's most often seen in bloom in July–September.

4states where USDA records it
1,567KS sightings*
84,061U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Kansas

🏅
Kansas's official state flower since 1903. Visit the Kansas page → K.S.A. 73-1801 The law names “the helianthus or wild native sunflower,” so this page covers the genus.

Quick look

Helianthus is a genus comprising around 50 species of annual and perennial flowering plants in the daisy family Asteraceae commonly known as sunflowers. The species of Helianthus are native to North America. The best-known species is the common sunflower.

  • It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 4 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Kansas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,567 research-grade sightings of it in Kansas, ranking #3 among the 151 flowers on our Kansas list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Kansas, most flowering sightings come in July–September.

Flowering records by month in Kansas (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (57 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe
Unknown We couldn't find this name in NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “The seeds are eaten and are a source of one of the most important vegetable oils. The leaves and stalks are food for livestock.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Helianthus angustifolius (“Sunflower”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records sunflowers in 4 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Michigan, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin.

Names, range and relatives

Other Helianthus on Bloomipedia (5): Common sunflower, Maximilian sunflower, Cucumberleaf sunflower, Narrowleaf sunflower, Prairie sunflower.

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion, Firewheel.

More Kansas flowers

Compass plant (Silphium laciniatum)

Compass plant

Silphium laciniatum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in KS
Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in KS
Western ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii)

Western ironweed

Vernonia baldwinii

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in KS

Sources