Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS => GARDENING AROUND THE HOUSE => Topic started by: Finsky on March 16, 2005, 02:41:50 am

Title: Who knows Helianthus debilis, beach sunflower
Post by: Finsky on March 16, 2005, 02:41:50 am

It it native to florida. It is new garden plant in Finnish plant collection.
Do bees gather pollen from that flower?
It seems to flower all the time.

I just put some seeds in compost. It can be propagated from branches.

(http://swiftweb.com/ccfnps/graphics/beach-sunflower.jpg)

Title: Who knows Helianthus debilis, beach sunflower
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on March 16, 2005, 06:28:00 pm

I have seen it in one of my books somewhere but havent studied it, bye :D

Title: Who knows Helianthus debilis, beach sunflower
Post by: Beth Kirkley on March 16, 2005, 06:44:41 pm

I did a little search on the net about it, and found this.

Detailed information on Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis)      

Family: Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus: Helianthus (hee-lee-AN-thus) (Info)
Species: debilis (deb-IL-iss) (Info)

Category:
Groundcovers
Perennials

Height:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)

Spacing:
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4° C (15° F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6° C (20° F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8° C (25° F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1°C (30° F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7° C (35° F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5° C (40° F)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun

Bloom Color:
Bright Yellow

Bloom Time:
Blooms all year
Blooms repeatedly

Foliage:
Evergreen

Other details:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Provides winter interest

Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)

Propagation Methods:
From herbaceous stem cuttings
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; direct sow after last frost

Beth

Title: Who knows Helianthus debilis, beach sunflower
Post by: Jerrymac on March 16, 2005, 07:08:58 pm

Beth,

 Where do you find that info? I have never been able to find any place that says bees are attracted, just butterflies or humming birds.

Title: Who knows Helianthus debilis, beach sunflower
Post by: Beth Kirkley on March 16, 2005, 08:29:11 pm

Just did a search and found it on this page:

Dave's Garden (http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/61948/index.html//)

Beth

Title: Who knows Helianthus debilis, beach sunflower
Post by: asleitch on March 17, 2005, 05:21:28 am

We had dwarf sunflower in the garden this year - and the bees loved them!  Only got a shot of Bumblebee not a honeybee

See here:

(http://www.pbase.com/asleitch/image/40901187.jpg)

(http://www.pbase.com/asleitch/image/40901188.jpg)

Title: Who knows Helianthus debilis, beach sunflower
Post by: Finsky on March 17, 2005, 07:47:00 am

Thanks!   I use  90 liter containers to grow this kind of flowers, and I put them in hot place. Seems to that it need airy, sandy compost and plenty of calsiumstone.

I noticed also that there are some varietes whic are pollen free. No use for bees:

"Butterflies are attracted to `Russian Mammoth' and `Lemon Queen' as well. " Gardeners now have new choices of sunflowers perfect for cutting -- smaller-headed varieties such as `Italian White' (H. cucumerifolius) and pollen-free hybrids like `Del Sol,' `Sunbeam' and `Moonshadow.'