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Helianthus glaucophyllus D.M. Sm.
Whiteleaf Sunflower
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: No Georgia state protection
Global Rank: G3G4
State Rank: S1
Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes
SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
2025 SGCN Priority Tier: High Conservation Concern
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 5
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Open, oak-hickory woods above 2500 ft.
Perennial herb with an erect, smooth, waxy-white stem up to 6.5 feet (100 - 200 cm) tall. Leaves opposite on the lower part of the stem and alternate near the top. Leaf stalks 0.4 - 1 inch (1 - 3 cm) long. Leaf blades 3.5 - 7 inches long and 1 - 2.75 inches wide (9 - 18 cm long and 2.5 - 7 cm wide), lance-shaped with abruptly narrowed bases and toothed margins; conspicuously 3-nerved, green and slightly rough-hairy on the upper surface, whitish and hairless on the lower surface, not gland-dotted on either surface. Flower heads on stalks up to 3 inches (0.5 - 8 cm) long. Each head with 5 - 8 yellow ray flowers and 20 - 35 yellow disk flowers with dark anthers. The base of each head is surrounded by a cup-shaped involucre of 12 - 15 green, pointed bracts. Fruit is a dry, hairless, seed-like achene, about 0.1 inch (3.5 - 3.8 mm) long.
Small-headed Sunflower (Helianthus microcephalus) also has a small number of ray flowers, usually 5 or 8. Its leaves are green and hairy on the lower surface with a mixture of glandular and non-glandular hairs. It is a common Appalachian species found in the same habitats as Whiteleaf Sunflower. Other common sunflowers such as Spreading Sunflower (H. divaricatus) and Roughleaf Sunflower (H. strumosus) have 10 or more ray flowers per head.
There are 6 rare species of Helianthus in Georgia:
Southeastern Sunflower (Helianthus agrestis) occurs in mucky, wet soils in open flatwoods in southeast Georgia. It has leafy stems and dark red or purple disk flowers. For more information on this species, see: http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Helianthus_agrestis
Whiteleaf Sunflower (Helianthus glaucophyllus) occurs in moist forests and woodlands in the Southern Appalachian mountains and foothills. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=16054.
Wetland Sunflower (Helianthus heterophyllus) occurs in bogs and wet pine savannas in southeast Georgia. Its leaves are primarily basal and it has dark red or purple disk flowers. For more information on this species, see: http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Helianthus_heterophyllus
Barrens Sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis) grows in the rocky or cherty soils of limestone glades and barrens in northwest Georgia. Its leaves are primarily basal and it has yellow disk flowers. For more information on this species, see: http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Helianthus_occidentalis
Smith's Sunflower (Helianthus smithii) occurs in the north Georgia mountains and foothills in dry forests and woodlands. For more information on this species, see:https://georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile.html?group=plants&es_id=20250&fus_tab_id=1HsRRHkW2qqMS1MunY5KMrvThVR_5C8sAX2-pFapk&group=plant
Whorled Sunflower (Helianthus verticillatus) occurs in wet prairies over dolomite bedrock in the Coosa Valley prairies. For more information on this species, see: https://georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile.html?group=plants&es_id=21967&fus_tab_id=1HsRRHkW2qqMS1MunY5KMrvThVR_5C8sAX2-pFapk&group=plant
Canopy gaps and roadsides in moist forests and woodlands in the Southern Appalachian mountains and foothills.
Whiteleaf Sunflower is a perennial herb that reproduces sexually as well as vegetatively by sprouting from crown buds and rhizomes. Its flower heads are composed of sterile ray flowers and fertile disk flowers. Sunflowers, like most members of the aster family, require cross-pollination to successfully produce seed. The flowers are pollinated by bees, butterflies, and a variety of other insects. Pollinators are attracted to the nectar produced inside the base of the disk flowers. Seeds are dispersed by gravity and small animals.
Surveys are best conducted during flowering, July through September.
Whiteleaf Sunflower is a Southern Appalachian endemic found only in the mountains and foothills of Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Whiteleaf Sunflower is threatened by logging, road-building and widening, and off-road vehicle use.
| Threat 1 | Threat 2 | Threat 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Threat | Natural system modifications | Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Pollution |
| Specific Threat | None | None | None |
Helianthus glaucophyllus is ranked S1 by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, indicating that it is critically imperiled in Georgia, with only five known populations.
Avoid logging or other clearing, conduct surveys before widening or maintaining forest roads.
GADNR. 2019. Element occurrence records for Helianthus glaucophyllus. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. Social Circle, Georgia.
NatureServe. 2019. Species account for Helianthus glaucophyllus. NatureServe Explorer: an online encyclopedia of life, Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
Schilling, E.E. 2006. Species account for Helianthus glaucophyllus. Flora of North America North of Mexico, vol. 21. http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Helianthus_glaucophyllus
Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-Atlantic States. University of North Carolina Herbarium, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. http://www.herbarium.unc.edu/flora.htm
Linda G. Chafin
Linda G. Chafin, 11 November 2019: original account
