Sunflowers are said to symbolize worship. Maybe it's because these bright yellow flowers are easy to grow and have beautiful blooms. They are great gifts to uplift friends and family alike. But maybe you'd prefer to stick with flowers that look like sunflowers.
Whether that means bright yellow flowers and a green flower stalk, so many plants resemble sunflowers. Obvious examples are those from the daisy family or the daisy family. Flowers in these families have this sunflower look, with showy yellow petals and dark brown centers.
The number of plants in the sunflower family only competes with that of the orchid family and the legume family. Both families make up ¼ of the flowering plants classified today. But just because they're so classified doesn't mean they don't bear any resemblance to other species.
In fact, sunflower doppelgangers are everywhere, and they thrive in climates across North America. If you don't like the bright yellow petals of Helianthus annuus (the common sunflower plant), consider the following flowers that have that sunflower look without anything else that goes with it.
Yellow sunflower look alikes
If you are looking for bright yellow flowers that are large in size like Helianthus annuus, look no further. The yellow collection of those that resemble sunflowers is huge. Some look like small sunflowers while others grow on delicate shrubs. Some also have stems like the stems of sunflowers.
Black-eyed Susans
Rudbeckia hirta or black-eyed susan. Source: Fernando Sa Rapita
This flowering plant (Rudbeckia hirta to be precise) has dark green foliage and is perennial in the winter hardiness zones 4-9. Sometimes called the Gloriosa Daisy, it spreads up to two feet wide and up to 3 meters high. From the center of a rosette of spoon-shaped leaves grows a stem on which showy yellow coneflowers bloom in spring and autumn.
There are numerous varieties of Rudbeckia hirta that are similar to sunflowers. They sow themselves and, depending on the variety, thrive in both full sunlight and partial shade. Black-eyed susan plants either need very little water or moderate watering. They are relatively easy to grow, and therefore Gloriosa daisy plants grow wild in most of North America.
Learn more: Black-eyed Susans
False sunflower
Heliopsis helianthoides is commonly referred to as the false sunflower. Source: Wackybadger
False sunflowers (Heliopsis helianthoides) are so named because these plants resemble sunflowers. False sunflowers are also perennial plants. They grow up to 6 meters high and 3 meters wide.
False sunflowers have a yellow to dark brown center, similar to common sunflowers. But its serrated-edged leaves are triangular rather than beveled, and the flower heads of the false sunflower are simple rather than compound. They thrive in partial sun to full sun and appreciate well-drained soil.
Yellow sun hat
Echinacea paradoxa, yellow coneflower. Source: dietmut
Scientifically known as Echinacea paradoxa, this herbaceous perennial is hardy in zones 5-9. It grows up to 3 feet tall and reaches a spread of up to 1.5 feet. The flower heads also resemble those of the Black-Eyed Susan, with a dark brown center and yellow, radial-shaped petals that bloom in summer.
It works the same way as its purple sibling Echinacea purpurea in that it is an edible plant. Its roots are used in teas to support the immune system. Its self-sowing seeds also attract birds and butterflies.
Japanese sunflower
Tithonia diversifolia, the Japanese sunflower. Source: ManuVC
Tithonia diversifolia is a tall plant (up to 9 feet) with flowers that look like wild sunflowers. Compared to mammoth sunflowers, they are smaller and look more like bush daisies. Since these are self-sowing perennial plants, they are often grown to improve soil quality and feed livestock.
While they don't look as delicate as the Black-Eyed Susan, they add a delicate NPK balance to the soil that not many other flowering plants can. They love full sun and well-drained soil. The Japanese sunflower blooms all year round.
Orange sunflower look alikes
And then there are orange flowers. Here we deviate only slightly from the yellow sunflower atmosphere and move more in the direction of fiery sunflower analogues. While there aren't that many orange flowers that look like sunflowers, each one stands on its own. From those in the Asteraceae family to Calendula, sift these flowers if bright orange is your aesthetic preference.
Marigold & # 39; King of Orange & # 39;
Marigold flowers look very similar to sunflowers. Source: pstenzel71
Calendula officinalis is an attractive plant for bees and butterflies and is highly valued by gardeners. This has to do with its ability to attract beneficial insects and trap harmful pests. It has also been used medicinally for centuries as an antipyretic and to treat muscle spasms.
With large orange flowers that look like our sunny friends, this hardy annual has bushy, semi-ovoid leaves. It grows up to 2 feet tall and 1 foot wide, making it a great addition to an already full flower garden.
Learn more: Marigold
African marigold
Tagetes erecta, the African marigold, resembles sunflowers like "Sungold". Source: Rigid
Tagetes erecta is another beautiful plant with orange flowers that look like Helianthus without the dark brown centers. Instead, their fragrant blooms are compounded and squeezed into a beautiful display.
These plants thrive in zones 2-11 annually and appreciate full sun and well-drained soil. They are drought tolerant and deer resistant. They also attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Although there has been some debate as to whether or not these flowering plants are the same as calendula, the fact remains that each is assigned to a different genus.
Learn more: Marigolds
Purple sunflower look alikes
Let's cool off a little! Purple flowers bring a sense of calm to a garden and soften areas of yellow, orange, and red blooms. Here are two members of the Asteraceae family and another coneflower you may already know.
Autumn aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, Herbstaster. Source: Scott Zona
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium has become a big hit with perennial gardeners in recent years. In the Asteraceae family, this light purple flowered plant grows up to 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. It blooms in autumn and gives it the name Fall Aster.
Because it tends to clump and pile up as it grows, guides recommend pruning it in June in preparation for the fall bloom. This plant supports native bees and helps restore and maintain ecosystems. It thrives in USDA Climate Zones 3-8.
Sun hat
Echinacea purpurea, the purple coneflower. Source: W9NED
Echinacea purpurea is another medicinal plant that looks very similar to sunflowers. It has a radial petal arrangement gathered around a dark brown center. Much like its sister Echinacea paradoxa, purple coneflower enjoys well-draining muddy soils. It seeds itself and grows up to 5 feet tall in zones 3-9.
The big sun hat is a beautiful sight on the prairie. It's a great addition to an herb or cottage garden that has room to expand up to 3 feet.
Swan River Daisies
Brachyscome iberidifolia, the swan daisy. Source: Steve Slater
Brachyscome iberidifolia is a purple plant in the sunflower family that grows up to 1.5 feet tall. The light purple, lavender colored flowers bloom from spring to autumn and go well with almost any design.
Swan River Daisy prefers USDA Zones 2-11 and is perennial in Zones 9-11. The flowers are small, like miniature sunflowers that are only 1 inch wide. This is a great choice for gardeners who like the look of sunflowers in a smaller, more compact state.
Red sunflower look alikes
Since red is a color that many gardeners like to incorporate into their gardens, we need to look at a few varieties. These flowers have the same radial appearance and can function like sunflowers in a garden.
Mexican sunflower
Tithonia rotundifolia, the Mexican sunflower. Source: SamwiseGamgee69
Tithonia rotundifolia are beautiful red flowers that grow to between 3 and 8 feet tall and spread out a few feet wide. These flowers are great for more tropical areas in zones 9-11. They love poor soil and partial sun to full sun. This easy-care system does not require a lot of water.
The red daisy-like flowers bloom on a tall stalk from summer to autumn. They are great for vegetable gardens as they attract beneficial pollinators that many plants rely on. In their hardiness zones, they are considered wild. They prefer well drained soil and full sun.
Transvaal daisies
Gerbera jamesonii, the gerber daisy. Source: elnudomolesto
Gerbera jamesonii, also known as Gerber Daisy, is a beautiful plant with red flowers that look like sunflowers. These are easy-care plants that prefer full sun to partial shade. They are clump-forming, tender perennials that bloom up to 4 feet tall.
Their red flowers reach up to 4 inches in diameter. In some areas this plant blooms all year round and in others this daisy blooms from summer to autumn. They have pinnate, spoon-shaped leaves that look beautiful all year round. You are one year old.
White sunflower look alikes
Much like purple, white flowers can add support to a garden by toning down the design and giving the eye a place to rest in all the vibrancy. We're even adding a short ground cover plant that has that sunflower-like appeal!
Mexican daisies
Erigeron karvinskianus, Mexican daisy, looks like a little white sunflower. Source: M. Martin Vicente
Erigeron karvinskianus, the Mexican daisy, is a perennial herb with a hilly habit. It produces a rich display of tiny white to pale pink flowers that, in extreme miniature, are reminiscent of sunflowers. If you have a kid who wants sunflowers for their dollhouse, this is a great choice!
While it is more commonly used as a shrubby ground cover plant in warm climates, it can also be used to great effect in container gardens. By the way, it looks stunning around the base of real sunflowers too!
Learn more: Mexican daisies
Oxeye daisies
Leucanthemum vulgare, the ox-eye daisy. Source: xulescu_g
Leucanthemum vulgare is a vigorously spreading bush daisy with a yellow center and small white petals that grow up to 3 feet tall. It is considered a weed in most locations, which makes it a great addition to wildflower gardens in hardiness zones 3-8.
It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Its white petals bloom from spring to summer. However, because of its invasive classification in several US states, it is not the best plant for a ranch or pasture.
Other sunflower look alikes
Finally, there are sunflower-like plants that don't stick to just one color. These tend to grow in gradients and shades of numerous hues. From the ever-popular mom to the US prairies to European meadows, the following flowers don't fit into the monochrome shape.
Golden tick seed
Coreopsis tinctoria, the golden tick seed. Source: Cerlin Ng
Coreopsis tinctoria is a plant that grows throughout the plains of North America. Its interesting yellow flowers with red and orange interior accents are valued in prairie gardens for its ability to attract butterflies, bees, and other nectar insects. It has been used by the aborigines over time to treat diuretic conditions and nausea.
These perennial flowers self-seed and tend to emerge more in wet years. It blooms all year round, typically in spring and fall. Its dark green leaves grow up to 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide. Since it is a lowland plant, it loves well-drained soil.
Florist's daisies
Chrysanthemum x morifolium, & # 39; Kurume & # 39; variety. Source: Dr. Boluses
Chrysanthemum x morifolium is so widespread and has so many varieties that we can classify them in the miscellaneous category. The flower colors range from white to yellow to purple and even green. This herbaceous, slightly woody plant has compound flowers like sunflowers. Some varieties have a pronounced yellow center while others have so many petals that it is impossible to see the center.
Since this is such a well-known and long-loved plant, there is a ton of color and style to choose from. Most mothers grow to be no more than 3 feet tall and have woody stems with thick leathery leaves that give off a strong odor if crushed. Most mothers grow in hardiness zones 5-9.
Gaillardia
Gaillardia flowers have central pads similar to those of sunflowers. Source: solent66
We're going to finish this sunflower analog piece with a bang. The extensive Gaillardia species, also called the Blanket Flower or Firewheel, is one such analog that grows in wide open areas in the US plains. If you've ever seen and smelled a field of Blanket Flowers you know why home growers would benefit from it.
The flower has a yellow tip, with a dark red ombre in the middle (hence the Firewheel). This sun-loving plant prefers well-drained muddy soil and grows up to 2 feet tall. It spreads over a few years and thrives in zone 3-10.
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