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| Helianthus salicifolius |
It's been a lovely addition to the late summer/early fall garden with its profuse late summer blooms and its graceful willow-like foliage.
Although, I haven't been able to capture a decent photo of the bees that visit this darling, I was able to catch a slow moving crab spider. This tiny little creature uses camouflage and stealth to capture its prey. Crab Spiders really do resemble their namesake! Their over sized first/front legs are held open to grab their prey and they walk sideways or backwards using their back legs to maneuver. Just like a tiny crab! But, I digress!
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| leans over after rain~but, I don't mind |
Willow-leaf sunflower has so many pluses that I had to make an exception to my plant wildflowers indigenous to the Central Basin rule. Don't you agree that it's a perfect addition to the rough and tumble wildflower mix at Clay and Limestone!
- it has those pretty daisy like flowers that bloom from September through frost;
- it's attractive to wildlife;
- lovely wispy leaves that resemble Amsonia hubrectii
- will grow in dry sunny spots;
- tolerates limestone;
- it looks fabulous with all the purple and lilac flowers; and,
- has the potential to grow quite tall in the ideal spot.
It really isn't just another yellow daisy/composite flower to me. It's a late blooming, pollen rich plant that provides food for many types of bees and other pollinators, insects, crab spiders and seed loving song birds. Give it a try~You will love it! But, you don't have to take my word for it! Dee/Red Dirt Ramblings has it in her Central South garden, too.
xxoogail
