Photo by Gary Kurtz
The Giant Sunflower can grow up to 12 feet tall, with bright yellow flowers measuring about 3 to 4 inches in diameter. The central discs of the flowers can range from golden to brown. The rough stems are typically green, but can have a reddish-purple hue. The lanceolate-elliptic shaped leaves are opposite on the lower part of the stem and alternate along the upper part of the stem and can be up to seven inches long and two inches wide. The upper side of the leaves are rough and the lower sides are softly hairy. The leaves have rounded teeth along the edges. This sunflower thrives in moist, open areas such as prairies, meadows, and along streams. (SF)