Helianthus niveus ( ) ( )

Asteraceae

Helianthus niveus subsp. tephrodes (Algodones Dunes sunflower) ( )

• Algodones Dunes sunflower is an attractive dune plant known in California only from these dunes. This silver-leafed member of the sunflower family inhabits the interior portions of the dunes at the bases along the sides of large dunes. It grows to more than 2 feet in height which is taller than its cousin Helianthus niveus subsp. canescens- widespread on dunes and low sandy places across the Sonoran Desert. Extremely tolerant of moving sand. Algodones Dunes sunflower grows rapidly to avoid being buried. Interestingly, this sunflower has two distinct seasons of flowering-one from March to May and another from October to January- when it produces bright yellow daisy-like flower heads. It has a CNPS Rare Plant Rank 1B: rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."