[Woolly Sunflowers: The Genus Eriophyllum in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Woolly Sunflower, Oregon Sunshine

Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum

Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum

Woolly Sunflower, Oregon Sunshine: Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum) - Western Woolly Sunflower, Woolly Sunflower, Common Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum)

What may be woolly sunflower (var. leucophyllum) as seen at left in open, mixed oak-conifer forest along Little Bowman Creek near the Canyon Creek Trailhead, Klickitat Wildlife Area........May22, 2015. The photo at right shows what may be woolly sunflower observed atop Monte Cristo, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.....June 18, 2021.

Characteristics:

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.

Habitat:

Open, dry places from the lowlands to above timberline.

Range:

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.

In the Columbia River Gorge, variety lanatum is found between 100'-4200' from the west end of the gorge to just west of The Dalles, OR. A discoid version of variety lanatum is found between 400'-4200' between the Wind and White Salmon Rivers, and also at Conboy National Wildlife Refuge. Variety integrifolium is found between 0'-3000' from Hood River, OR and hence east.

Importance/ Uses:

This species is an interesting addition to the wildflower garden, and the variety lanatum is able to survive the wet winters west of the Cascades, although it must be given plenty of space as it can become leggy and needs to be cut back on occasion. I also find them easy to establish as stem cuttings in late fall or late winter by sticking the cut stems in the soil in various parts of my garden!

Western Woolly Sunflower, Woolly Sunflower, Common Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum) - Western Woolly Sunflower, Woolly Sunflower, Common Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum)

Oregon sunshine (var. leucophyllum) blooming on a bald along the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 about half a mile west of Huckleberry Mountain, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.......June 23, 2024.

Western Woolly Sunflower, Woolly Sunflower, Common Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum)

A late-blooming Oregon sunshine (var. leucophyllum) observed along the Toutle Trail #238 about one and one-half miles uphill to the northwest of Blue Lake, Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument......August 14, 2024.

Western Woolly Sunflower, Woolly Sunflower, Common Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum) - Stem leaves of Western Woolly Sunflower, Woolly Sunflower, Common Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum)

Oregon sunshine in bloom at left along the Lowder Mountain Trail #3329, Three Sisters Wilderness........June 23, 2018. The photo at right shows what may be Oregon sunshine (var. leucophyllum) atop Monte Cristo, Monte Cristo Natural Area Preserve.....June 21, 2022. Without a closer examination of leaf arrangementon the stems as well as the number of ray flowers, this could also be var. lanatum.

Western Woolly Sunflower, Woolly Sunflower, Common Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum) - Western Woolly Sunflower, Woolly Sunflower, Common Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum) - Stem leaves of Western Woolly Sunflower, Woolly Sunflower, Common Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum)

Oregon sunshine blooming on balds below the high point of the Cone Peak Trail #3408, Willamette Pass.....July 17, 2023.

Western Woolly Sunflower, Woolly Sunflower, Common Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum) - Western Woolly Sunflower, Woolly Sunflower, Common Eriophyllum: Eriophyllum lanatum var. leucophyllum (Synonym: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum)

Lower stem leaves of woolly sunflower (E. lanatum var. leucophyllum) as seen at left. Note the up to twice pinnately divided blades and opposite leaves. Photographed at Panakanic, western Klickitat County, Washington........Jun17, 2015. The photo at right shows woolly sunflower (E. lanatum var. leucophyllum) as seen atop Hardy Ridge, Beacon Rock State Park........April 8, 016.
Paul Slichter