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Over sixty species of Helianthus are native to North and South America. The best known is the big annual sunflower that gives us commercial sunflower seeds and sunflower oil. Jerusalem artichoke is another relative with some commercial value. Several Florida native species are gaining popularity as garden plants. The dune sunflower is native to the beaches of Florida and the southeastern U.S. It is a creeping perennial of well-drained soils. It is tolerant of salt spray.

In mild winters, beach sunflower is evergreen and has yellow flowers all year. In the low 20's F, it may die to the ground and resprout the following year. If temperatures drop into the teens F, it must regenerate from the previous year's seeds.