Taxon: Helianthus pauciflorus Nutt.

Summary

Genus:

Helianthus

Family:

Asteraceae (alt. Compositae)

Subfamily:

Asteroideae

Tribe:

Heliantheae

Nomen number:

316322

Place of publication:

Gen. N. Amer. pl. 2:177. 1818 Jul

Verified:

03/08/2010 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

17 (13 active, 13 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Helianthus pauciflorus Nutt. subsp. pauciflorus (22 active accession[s])
Helianthus pauciflorus Nutt. subsp. subrhomboideus (Rydb.) O. Spring & E. E. Schill. (17 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Atlagic, J. 2004. Roles of interspecific hybridization and cytogenetic studies in sunflower breeding. Helia 27:1-24.
Christov, M. et al. 2009. Wild species of Helianthus L. - Sources of resistance to the parasite Orobanche cumana Wallr. Helia 32:65-74.
Englert, J. M. et al. 1999-. USDA-NRCS Improved conservation plant materials released by NRCS and cooperators
Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1456.
Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
Grygiel, C. E. et al. 2014. Using precision prairie reconstruction to drive the native seeded species colonization process. Restorat. Ecol. 22:465-471. DOI: 10.1111/rec.12088. Note: Helianthus pauciflorus is considered a forb of prairie ecosystems; it was found to have the highest colonization performance
Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
Heiser, C. B., Jr. 1965. Species crosses in Helianthus: III. Delimitation of "Sections". Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 52:364-370. Note: = Helianthus rigidus
Hristova-Cherbadzi, M. et al. 2007. Characterization of hybrids between H. annuus L. and the subspecies subrhomboideus (Rydberg) Heiser of perennial hexaploid H. pauciflorus. Helia 30:37-50.
Jeffrey, C. 1981. Tab. 822 Helianthus pauciflorus. Bot. Mag. 183:116.
Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
Rogers, C. E. et al. 1982. Sunflower species of the United States
Timme, R. E. et al. 2007. High-resolution phylogeny for Helianthus (Asteraceae) using the 18S-26S ribosomal DNA external transcribed spacer. Amer. J. Bot. 94:1837-1852. Note: as Helianthus pauciflorus subsp. rhomboideus
Voss, E. 1972-. Michigan flora.

Common names

Language	Name	note	seq	Citation
English	stiff sunflower	as Helianthus rigidus	1	Rogers, C. E. et al. 1982. Sunflower species of the United States
French	hélianthe rigide		2	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
German	armblütige Sonnenblume		2	Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1456.
Swedish	höstsolros		2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	New Brunswick		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Illinois		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Iowa		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Kansas		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Minnesota		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Missouri		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Nebraska		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	North Dakota		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Oklahoma		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	South Dakota		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Wisconsin		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Connecticut		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maine		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Massachusetts		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Michigan		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Hampshire		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Jersey		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New York	w.	Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Vermont		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Colorado		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Montana		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Wyoming		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	New Mexico		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas		Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Kentucky		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Alberta	s.	Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	British Columbia	s.	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Manitoba	s.	Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Saskatchewan	s.	Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.
2	Cultivated					also cult.
3	Adventive	Europe	Middle Europe	Austria			Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
3	Adventive	Europe	Middle Europe	Czech Republic			Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
3	Adventive	Europe	Middle Europe	Slovakia			Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
3	Adventive	Europe	Southwestern Europe	Spain			Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Europe	Eastern Europe	Lithuania			Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Europe	Eastern Europe	Ukraine			Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Europe	Middle Europe	Hungary			Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Europe	Northern Europe	Norway			Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Croatia			Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Italy		incl. Sardinia, Sicily	Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Serbia			Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Slovenia			Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Europe	Southwestern Europe	France			Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Ontario	s.	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Prince Edward Island		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Québec		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.

Native
Northern America

EASTERN CANADA: Canada [New Brunswick]
WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Saskatchewan (s.), Alberta (s.), Manitoba (s.), British Columbia (s.)]
NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York (w.), Vermont, Connecticut]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Oklahoma, Wisconsin]
NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Colorado, Montana, Wyoming]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico, Texas]

Cultivated (also cult.)
Adventive
Europe

MIDDLE EUROPE: Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia
SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain

Naturalized
Europe

NORTHERN EUROPE: Norway
MIDDLE EUROPE: Hungary
EASTERN EUROPE: Lithuania, Ukraine
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Serbia, Slovenia
SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: France

Northern America

EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Québec, Ontario (s.), Prince Edward Island]

Reference(s)

Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
Heiser, C. B., Jr. et al. 1969. The North American sunflowers (Helianthus). Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 22:136. Note: = Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Environmental	ornamental	for native landscaping	Englert, J. M. et al. 1999-. USDA-NRCS Improved conservation plant materials released by NRCS and cooperators
Environmental	revegetator	for prairie restoration	Englert, J. M. et al. 1999-. USDA-NRCS Improved conservation plant materials released by NRCS and cooperators
Environmental	revegetator	for prairie restoration	Grygiel, C. E. et al. 2014. Using precision prairie reconstruction to drive the native seeded species colonization process. Restorat. Ecol. 22:465-471. DOI: 10.1111/rec.12088. Note: Helianthus pauciflorus is considered a forb of prairie ecosystems; it was found to have the highest colonization performance

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=316322. Accessed 9 May 2026.