General:
Annual herb from a fibrous root; stems erect, simple or branched above, rough stiff-hairy, 0.4-2 m tall.

Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; lower leaves opposite, often heart-shaped; middle and upper leaves alternate, stalked, toothed, egg-shaped or wider, rough stiff-hairy.

Flowers:
Heads with ray and disk flowers, terminal; involucres 10-12 mm tall; involucral bracts graduated, egg-shaped to more oblong, with long-pointed tips, stiff-hairy with fringed margins; ray flowers yellow, up to 3 cm long; disk flowers numerous, reddish-purple, rarely yellow; receptacles flat, over 2 cm wide;

Fruits:
Achene compressed, glabrous or obscurely hairy, over 4 mm long; pappus of 2 firm, readily deciduous bristles with enlarged, thin, papery bases.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Flower Colour:
Yellow

Blooming Period:
Summer

Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Blue
Present from Summer to Fall

Source:  The USDA

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Helianthus annuus subsp. jaegeri (Heiser) Heiser
Helianthus annuus subsp. lenticularis (Douglas ex Lindl.) Cockerell
Helianthus annuus subsp. texanus Heiser
Helianthus annuus var. lenticularis (Douglas ex Lindl.) Steyerm.
Helianthus annuus var. macrocarpus (DC.) Cockerell
Helianthus annuus var. texanus (Heiser) Shinners
Helianthus aridus Rydb.
Helianthus lenticularis Douglas ex Lindl.