It may not be as statuesque as some in its genus, but showy sunflower has its own appeal. It thrives in full sun and a variety of average to dry soils, producing large, yellow flower heads with purplish centers in late summer. Its other common names--stiff sunflower and few-leaved sunflower--are succinct descriptions of the stiff, leathery leaves that occur mainly at the base of the stiff, bristly stem. This sunflower species can be distinguished from others by the rough texture of its leaves and stems, the short stout petioles, and the lanceolate shape of its leaves.
 
In the domestic landscape, it may not be a suitable choice for gardeners who want to put many different plants in a small space. Its shorter height (3-5'); stiff, slender stems; and ability to rapidly colonize make it a valuable plant for larger areas. It's typically found on dry prairies or in silty, shallow soils, and it tends to prefer drier conditions than other sunflowers. Also called prairie sunflower, it's often used in prairie restorations.
 
There are plenty of reasons to include sunflowers in your landscape, but there are also a few caveats to keep in mind. Wildlife value is extremely high--members of the Helianthus genus are keystone plants, hosting 76 species of caterpillars in central Ohio. They attract many pollinators, especially bees, which benefits other plants. The seeds provide summer and winter nourishment for birds, who consume insects while letting us enjoy their songs and plumage. A lesser known feature of sunflowers is their ability to help detox heavy metals from the soil. Their roots and seeds also help discourage weeds by emitting an allelopathic chemical that inhibits the growth of nearby plants. The downside to this trait is the reality that beloved perennials and vegetables may not survive close proximity to sunflowers. The solution is to choose sites carefully. Don't plant them too close to vegetables (pole beans and potatoes are especially susceptible) and other plants. At the end of the season, chop up the dead sunflowers and add them to the compost rather than leaving the affected parts in the soil over winter and spring. 
 
Native habitats include average to dry prairies, roadsides, and along railroads.
 
Plant Characteristics:
Grows 3- 5' tall.
 
Prefers full sun but also grows in part sun.
 
Grows in average to dry soils with a preference for dry. Tolerates drought once established.
 
Blooms July-September. Flowers are 2 - 3½ inches across with 10-25 yellow rays. The center disk is usually purplish brown or sometimes yellow. The bracts are short, wide, and flattened, usually with a dull point at the tip and short hairs around the edges. The center disk forms a head of dry seeds, each about ¼" long and lacking a tuft of hairs but with 2 bristly scales at the tip.
 
Opposite leaves are 2-10"long and shaped like the tip of a spear. Leaves are short stalked to stalkless. A pair of prominent lower veins run parallel to the center vein. The margins have shallow, widely spaced teeth and short hairs. Color is dull grayish green to olive.
 
Bristly stem turns reddish brown as it ages.
 
Wildlife Value:
Host plant for 76 species of Lepidoptera larvae, including the gorgone checkerspot butterfly and white-marked tussock moth. Twelve specialist species can only feed on Helianthus, including the frothy and banded sunflower moths. An additional feeder, sunflower head-clipping weevil, may cause flower heads to droop and fall off. Sunflowers are primarily pollinated by bees and are a popular late-season source of pollen for bumble, mining, leafcutting, green metallic, cuckoo, and other halictid bees. Butterflies and bee flies also visit the flowers. Game and song birds, squirrels, rabbits, deer, and other mammals eat the seeds. 
 
Medicinal, Edible, and Other Uses:
The leaf petioles, seeds, and flowers are used as an expectorant, diuretic, and astringent. Tea made from the leaves may help to reduce fever, and a poultice of leaves may be applied to sores, bug bites, and swellings.
 
The leaf petioles, seeds, and flowers are edible. The seeds can be pressed to make oil that has a high Vitamin E content.
 
Native Americans used the plant as a dye and for building material.
 
Resources:
Gardening Know-How: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/gardening-pros-cons/sunflower-planting-pros-and-cons#:~:text=Sunflowers%20are%20also%20known%20to,perfect%20for%20catching%20the%20wind.
 
Illinois Wildflowers: https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/pr_sunflowerx.htm
 
Minnesota Wildflowers: https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/stiff-sunflower
 
USDA: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/plantmaterials/ndpmcpghepap2.pdf