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Type Of Helianthus
Ask the Expert: Yellow Wildflower – grows in Kentucky
This flower (I’m sorry the pick is somewhat past bloom) grows all along the farm – my friend believes it to be wild cosmos… and I didn’t think there was a cosmos genus around here – could you help us out?
Thank you! Anne
Plant Expert Reply:
I believe it is a type of Helianthus. Kentucky has many wild species of Helianthus. My best guess would be one of the following: Helianthus hirsutus (Hairy Sunflower), Helianthus strumosus (Pale-leaved Woodland Sunflower) or Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke). Of course it is a little hard to tell without an open bloom.
There is a common east coast weed. Bidens frondosa that looks similar to the plant pictured. common name is Devils Beggartick, or pitchfork weed. Generally a late summer to fall flowering plant in the aster family but they dont have the “petal” ray flowers on the edges.