
Flower profile
Narrowleaf sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius
Narrowleaf sunflower is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in September–November.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Louisiana, Mississippi
Quick look
Helianthus angustifolius is a species of sunflower known by the common name narrowleaf sunflower or swamp sunflower. It is native to the south-central and eastern United States, found in all the coastal states from Texas to Long Island, and inland as far as Missouri. It is typically found in the coastal plain habitat, particularly in wet areas.
- It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 23 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Mississippi and Louisiana. NatureServe
- In Mississippi, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in September–November. iNaturalist
- In Louisiana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–November. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late summer. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 5.6 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 413 research-grade sightings of it in Mississippi, ranking #56 among the 110 flowers on our Mississippi list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 404 research-grade sightings of it in Louisiana, ranking #91 among the 109 flowers on our Louisiana list. iNaturalist
Narrowleaf sunflower gift ideas
Handmade narrowleaf sunflower gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Narrowleaf sunflower art print
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Narrowleaf sunflower greeting card
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Narrowleaf sunflower mug
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Narrowleaf sunflower earrings
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Narrowleaf sunflower embroidery pattern
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Narrowleaf sunflower sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | Native | September–November | 413 |
| Louisiana | Native | June–November | 404 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Mississippi
- No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
- Louisiana
- No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IL (S2), IN (S1), MO (S2), NY (S2), PA (SX). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Sunflower” (Helianthus angustifolius) lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records narrowleaf sunflower in 23 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.
Mississippi counties with USDA records: Franklin, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Kemper, Lafayette, Madison, Newton, Scott, Smith, Wayne, Winston.
Louisiana counties with USDA records: Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Claiborne, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Lafayette, Lincoln, Livingston, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Union, Vermilion, Vernon, Washington, Webster, West Carroll, Winn.
More Mississippi flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile HEAN2.
- iNaturalist, Helianthus angustifolius: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Helianthus angustifolius (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Mississippi: Mississippi Noxious Weed List (2 Miss. Code R. 1-3-01-136.01).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Helianthus angustifolius (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Jeff Wilson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.


