| Scientific Name | Aster novae-angliae | Aster umbellatus | Cassia hebecarpa | Helianthus giganteus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Name | New England aster | flat-topped white aster | wild senna | giant sunflower |
| Height | 3-7' | 1-7' | 4-8' | 3-12' |
| Bloom Time | summer/autumn | summer | summer | summer/autumn |
| Flower Color | violet | white | yellow | yellow |
| Habitat | wet thickets, meadows, swamps | moist, open woods or meadows | moist open woods, disturbed areas | swamps, moist woods and meadows |
| Features | Branched plant with clusters of 1" flowers. Flower color varies. Grows best in low-fertility soils and full sun. *(bf) | Good for wet meadows; wide, flat cluster of 2/3" flowers. Early-blooming aster. *(bf) | Leguminous plant with 6-8" long pinnately compound leaves and clusters of small (3/4") yellow flowers. Does well in clay or moist soils. *(bf-l) | Stems are rough and reddish and bear many 1.5 to 3" light-yellow flower heads. *(bd) |
| Availability | trade | specialty dealers | specialty dealers |
| Scientific Name | Helianthus grosseserratus | Helianthus maximilianii | Helianthus strumosus | Helianthus tuberosus | Silphium perfoliatum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Name | sawtooth sunflower | Maximilian's sunflower | woodland sunflower | Jerusalem artichoke | cup-plant | |
| Height | 4-12' | 3-10' | 3-7' | 5-10' | 3-10' | summer |
| Bloom Time | summer/autumn | summer-autumn | summer | autumn | ||
| Flower Color | yellow | yellow | yellow | yellow | yellow | |
| Habitat | fertile prairies | prairies | woods, wood borders, clearings | moist, fertile soils | woods, moist meadows, wood borders | |
| Features | Best in moist, fertile soil. Will not bloom the first year. *(bd) | Flowers are 2-3" wide with 10-12 rays. Drought tolerant; prolific seeder. *(bd) *(w) *(bf) | Several 2-3" flowers with 9-15 rays. *(w) *(bf) | Several 3" flowers with 10-20 rays; weedy. Edible tuber. *(bf) | Adaptable, but does best in fertile, moist soils. Leaves form cups that hold rainwater for butterflies, birds. *(bd) *(bf) *(hb) | |
| Availability | specialty dealers | trade | specialty dealers | trade | specialty dealers |
KEY: = RED denotes plant is toxic to humans. Features: *(x) = a food or cover benefit for...*(bf) = butterflies, *(bf-l) = butterfly larvae, *(w) = wildlife; *(bd) = songbirds; *(be) honeybees; *(hb) = hummingbirds. "Do not disturb in the wild." = plant is endangered (!!), threatened (!), or potentially threatened (.)