Indiana - zone 5
Growing by the roadside and down the slope into a depression. Probably sandy-clay soil there, and I'm guessing not excessively fertile. More of a waste type area.

Plants are very large - 6 to 8' tall.

Stalks are hairy, as are the leaf petioles. These plants bloom for just a couple of weeks in late September. I did get one of these plants to grow from collected seed.

I've finally ID'd this one as well...

http://uswildflowers.com/detai...



Thanks again Lee Anne for pointing me in the right direction(s) for native sunflower type plants!!

I've a few more to look for...... (I told myself that I'd wait 'til winter to research these......oops! Now I'm on a roll... )

I'm opening this one again.

I've received knowledge from a reliable source that this is some sort of helianthus, not verbisina. So, it's back to searching.....

Chelle, check this site & see if you can't find it. Don't forget to check nearby states. It may have migrated.

http://uswildflowers.com/state...

Thanks for the link, Ann.

This one plant has been so elusive.....I even asked a DNR representative if he could help with its ID....he didn't have as much desire to wade through all the possibilities as we do!

I'm off to check it out.

The closest match listed there is Helianthus tuberosus. The photo of the lower stem section with leaves that they show looks very similar to the one I have, except that I've never seen reddish color on the stalks of my plant.

My first thought was also Helianthus tuberosus.

I may just dig mine up and have a look at its underground parts. This is my least preferred choice, but trying to identify this plant has been much more difficult than I ever thought it would be. I originally thought that with its height it would be a snap.

YVW Chelle. Is it possible that the reddish color has to do with the particular area it's growing? Or with the soil ph? Or soil type?
I think what you may need is a "all things helianthus" ID & info. site. Hmmmm... wonder if there's a helianthus club?

flaflwrgrl said:YVW Chelle.

What does YVW stand for? Hmmm? (I have something in mind but I bet it's not right. )

flaflwrgrl said:
I think what you may need is a "all things helianthus" ID & info. site. Hmmmm... wonder if there's a helianthus club?

I do!! ....I have more of these types of plants to ID too!

YVW --- You're very welcome. Just learned that one recently myself.

Google for sunflower clubs or helianthus clubs. See what you come up with. Or sunflower list or helianthus list or helianthus species list or helianthus variety list or...or...or...

Ah.

Thanks for the new term!

I've tried the list one before - next I'll try clubs.

If the rain and wind ever stop I'll probably dig up the plant.....

You were right the first time, it's Wingstem. Not a Helianthus.

Thank you, Kent.

How did you come to this conclusion? I'm asking because I'm still confused.

The "wings" extending down the stem below the attachment point of the leaves is fairly distinctive. More importantly, the leaves give the appearance of having winged petioles (technically, they don't but they look like they do). Finally, the leaves arranged in an alternate fashion (most Helianthus species have opposite leaves). Put all of that together, and there is little doubt that your plant is Wingstem.

FWIW, I can't see the flowers clearly to be certain but, from what I can see, they also look more like Wingstem flowers than Helianthus flowers.

So, it's verbesina. Great!

I'm sure that I have more images of this plant. I'll find another one of the flowers and get it in here.

Many thanks, Kent!

It's definitely not alternifolia. Look at the eighth image here http://www.namethatplant.net/p... . These stems appear to be much different than mine. In addition to that, the ray petals on mine are more pointy at the tips than the ones shown for alternifolia. They show as more rounded and sometimes with a center cleft at the end of the petal.

Additional info on this elusive sunflower.....

I dug one up.

We're looking for a much larger plant. The specimen shown here is 12 feet tall. Some were appreciably larger.

Plant's average size = 12 feet. Some individuals deeper in the gully appeared to be 15-18 feet tall.



Roots



Seed. (Center, left.)




At least one set of leaves on each flower branch is opposite. Middle section of plant stalk has some alternate leaves.




Here, it appears that the (now missing, if there ever were any) basal leaves were opposite.



...and lastly, some flowers.

Dave was right on this one.

This is a form of helianthus tuberosus.

Here is one of the most comprehensive and informative links I've found. http://www.oardc.ohio-state.ed...

This is an excerpt of the definitions section that I've adjusted with bold letters and underlining in some of the most pertinent areas.

The Ohio Perennial and Biennial Weed Guide says -

>>>>Plant Description: It is nearly impossible to distinguish Jerusalem artichoke from annual sunflowers based on above-ground growth. Jerusalem artichoke has a coarse, 5- to 10-foot tall stem, large leaves with a rough upper surface, and bright yellow sunflower-like flowers. However, Jerusalem artichoke can be easily distinguished from annual sunflowers by its below-ground growth that includes fleshy tubers resembling thin, knotty potatoes. Reproduction of Jerusalem artichoke is by seeds, rhizomes (horizontal underground stems), and tubers.

* Root system - The root system is fibrous with thin cord-like rhizomes (horizontal underground stems) that grow as long as 50 inches. Usually apparent at the tips of rhizomes are whitish to pinkish tubers that are irregular in size and shape and resemble a slender potato with knots.
* Seedlings & Shoots - The first leaves to emerge (cotyledons) have a united base in the shape of a short tube. Young leaves are elliptic, dull green, and covered with short stiff hairs.
* Stems - Jerusalem artichoke stems grow as tall as 12 feet, and are stout, rough, hairy, ridged. Stems can become woody over time. Branches vary from none to many.
* Leaves - Leaves are opposite (2 leaves per node) on the lower part of the stem, and alternate (1 leaf per node) near the top of the stem. Leaves are 4 to 10 inches long and nearly heart-shaped with a broad oval base and pointed tip. The thick leaves have 3 distinct main veins, coarsely-toothed margins, and attach to the stem by way of a [winged stalk (petiole). The upper leaf surface has coarse hairs while the lower surface has soft hairs.
* Flowers - Flower heads occur alone or in groups at the ends of main stems and axillary branches. Each flower head is 2 to 3 inches wide and made up of many small, yellow, tubular disk flowers in the center, surrounded by 10 to 20 yellow ray flowers (typically thought of as the petals).


Similar Species: Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual that shares many above-ground characteristics with Jerusalem artichoke but below ground, it lacks rhizomes and tubers.

My additional note - The verbesinas have winged stalks with wings depending downward from leaf petioles. Helianthus tuberosus has winged leaf petioles only; the wings do not extend downward along the stalk;-)


Do we have it correctly identified now?