Algodones sunflower

Helianthus niveus subsp. tephrodes (A.Gray) Heiser

Algodones sunflower belongs to the sand-dune flora of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Its stout taproot supports stems that may stand upright or lean along the ground. Soft white hairs give the plant a pale appearance against its desert surroundings, while the flower heads combine bright rays with a reddish centre. Flora of North America: Helianthus niveus subsp. tephrodes California Rare and Endangered Plants: Algodones Dunes sunflower

Botanical name

Kew accepts Helianthus niveus subsp. tephrodes (A.Gray) Heiser. The catalog’s ssp. denotes the same subspecies rank. Kew POWO: Helianthus niveus subsp. tephrodes

Recognizing the plant

The North American flora describes annual or perennial plants fifty to one hundred and fifty centimetres tall. Most leaves are alternate and borne along the stems, with stalked, broadly triangular blades. Their undersides are densely silky and dotted with glands. One to three heads develop on long stalks. Each carries roughly ten to thirteen ray florets around many disk florets. Hairy dry fruits follow, bearing a small set of unequal scales at their tips. Flora of North America: Helianthus niveus subsp. tephrodes

Bloom window

California

The California Native Plant Society records flowering from September through May. CNPS Rare Plant Inventory: Algodones Dunes sunflower

Native range

The subspecies is native to California, Arizona and Sonora. It occupies sandy hills and dunes; the California conservation inventory identifies vehicle activity as a threat to its habitat. Kew POWO: Helianthus niveus subsp. tephrodes CNPS Rare Plant Inventory: Algodones Dunes sunflower

Botanical sources

Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.