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Helianthus debilis Nutt. subsp. debilis
East Coast dune sunflower

Helianthus debilis
Copyright by: Roger L. Hammer

Family: Asteraceae

Group: Dicot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Herb

Perennation: Perennial

Native Range: Eastern peninsular Florida and southeastern Georgia; doubtfully native to the Monroe County Keys.

Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida

IRC SOUTH FLORIDA Status: Secure

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Present

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Native

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Cultivated

Comments: Visit our Natives For Your Neighborhood website for more information and images. See a 2019 post on the Treasure Coast Natives blog on why sunflowers bend.

Other data on Helianthus debilis subsp. debilis available from :

Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
Helianthus debilis subsp. debilis has been found in the following 41 conservation areas :
Occurrence Native Status
Atlantic Dunes Park Present Native
Beachwalk Pasley Park Present Native
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Present Native
Biscayne National Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Blowing Rocks Preserve Present Native
Crandon Park Present Native
Delray Beach Municipal Beach Present Native
Dolphin Center and Dolphin Center Addition Present Not Native, Naturalized
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park Present Native
Estero Bay Preserve State Park Doubtfully Present
Frenchman's Forest Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Gasparilla Island State Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Gomez Present Native
Gulfstream Park Present Native, Cultivated Only
High Ridge Scrub Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge Present Native
Hollywood North Beach Regional Park Present Native
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park Present Native
J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Present Not Native, Cultivated Only
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park Present Native
Jonathan Dickinson State Park Present Native
Juno Dunes Natural Area Present Native
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area Present Native
Jupiter Ridge Natural Area Present Native
Loggerhead Park Present Native
Matheson Hammock Park Present Native
Muscara Present Native
Ocean Ridge Hammock Park Present Native
Oleta River State Park Present Native
Phipps Ocean Park Present Native
Radnor Beach Park Present Native
Red Reef Park, including Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Present Native
San Carlos Bay - Bunche Beach Preserve Present Not Native, Naturalized
Seabranch Preserve State Park Present Native
Seacrest Scrub Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve Present Not Native, Naturalized
South Beach Park Present Native
St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park Present Native
Tamarind Private Dune Present Native
Twin Rivers Present Native
Virginia Key Beach Park and Marine Stadium Present Native

Helianthus debilis subsp. debilis has been found in the following 4 counties :
Occurrence Native Status
Broward County Native
Martin County Native
Miami-Dade County Native
Palm Beach County Native

Helianthus debilis subsp. debilis has been found in the following 4 habitats :
Beach Dune
Coastal Strand
Disturbed Upland
Scrubby Flatwoods

All Images:

Helianthus debilis
Copyright by: Roger L. Hammer
Helianthus debilis
Copyright by: George D. Gann
Helianthus debilis
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley