Helianthus 'First Light'
USPP #13,150, COPF
" Willow Leaf Sunflower Hybrid"

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BENEFITS
Stunning explosion of color for fall gardens. More manageable plant height than other Sunflowers.

BLOOM SEASON & HABIT
Hundreds of golden yellow flowers with dark brown eyes form in midfall on upright, self-supporting plants. Narrow elongated foliage.

LOCATION
Full sun. USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 9; AHS Heat Zones 9 to 5. See our Growing Zones page to reference growing zones in your area.

USE
Place in back of beds or borders. Nice cut flower. Birds enjoy the seeds. Makes an excellent, stand-alone specimen plant and is superb in combination with Ornamental Grasses and late-flowering Garden Mums and Asters.

SIZE
44" tall by 48" wide. Use 3 plants per square yard.

CULTURE
Prefers average well-drained soils. Grows best with added moisture but can tolerate drought. Allow stalks and seed heads to remain for winter interest and for food for birds. Divide clumps in spring or fall every 3 to 4 years. Also see our General Planting Tips for more information.

Meet the Breeder
This member of the Sunflower family offers extreme flower power for the fall garden. Leaves are narrow and willow like, as the parent species Helianthus salicifolius, thus the common name. 'First Light', bred by Dr. Keith Hammett of New Zealand, has a more manageable plant height than other cultivars of this species.