Woolly Sunflower, Common Woolly Sunflower, Eastern Eriophyllum, Eastern Woolly Sunflower, Oregon Sunshine

Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum

Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. typicum

The photo above shows woolly sunflower (var. lanatum) as seen on steep slopes above the John Day River along Oregon Highway 19 at milepost 80 in central Oregon.........May 28, 2007.

Woolly sunflower is an attractive wildflower, with woolly-haired herbage and bright yellow flower heads. The upper stem leaves are linear, but the lower leaves are pinnately dissected. The leaves range from 1-8 cm long. The leaves and stems are covered with gray, woolly hairs.

Woolly sunflower has numerous flower heads, each with a dime-sized yellow central disk surrounded by 8-14 yellow ray flowers. A common plant of drier, often rocky slopes. Flowers from May to August.

Variety lanatum has large heads, with the involucre 9-12 mm in height, and the rays about 1- 2 cm in length. The number of rays ranges from 8- 13. The leaves are entire to pinnatified. This variety ranges from 10- 60 cm tall. It is found west of the Cascade crest as well as along the eastern edge of the Cascades, and may be found sporadically through southeastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, central Idaho, and extreme western Montana.

Variety integrifolium is shorter (10- 25 cm in height) than variety lanatum. It has alternate leaves which are entire or trilobate at the tips. It is found exclusively east of the Cascade crest.

Found from southern British Columbia, mostly east of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada summits to southern California, east to western Montana, southeast Idaho, and northeast Nevada.

The photo above shows the lower stem leaves of woolly sunflower (var. lanatum) as seen high above the White Salmon River on cliffs above Forest Road #23 at about 3750' at the southwestern corner of Mt. Adams.........June 21, 2005.

Close-ups of woolly sunflower as seen on Steptoe Butte in eastern Washington........June 22, 2009. Note the native bee pollinator in the photos.

The photo above shows woolly sunflower (var. lanatum) as seen high above the White Salmon River on cliffs above Forest Road #23 at about 3750' at the southwestern corner of Mt. Adams.........June 21, 2005.

The photo above shows a close-up of the attractive woolly sunflower (var. lanatum) as seen on steep slopes above the John Day River along Oregon Highway 19 at milepost 80 in central Oregon.........May 28, 2007.