This year marks the 25th anniversary of the North Carolina Wildflower of the Year program. The program was started by the North Carolina Botanical Garden and the Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc. The aim of the program is to actively promote throughout the state and surrounding region attractive native plants of the southeastern United States.

The Wildflower of the Year for 2007 is Helianthus angustifolius, swamp sunflower. Swamp sunflower is native along the east coast and can be found growing in moist, sunny areas such as swamps and marshes. The swamp sunflower is also happy in normal garden conditions and is a clump forming, herbaceous perennial that will grow to 6' in height. The attractive dark green foliage is narrow and can get 6-8" long. It makes a good background for summer blooming perennials when planted at the back of the border. Then in late September to November, 2" golden yellow daisy-like flowers cover the plant. What a statement it makes amidst the fall landscape.

There are also several cultivars of swamp sunflower that offer the same great fall color but on more compact plants, that make them suitable for smaller gardens. We currently have Helianthus angustifolium 'First Light' PP#13150 available in 1gal. First Light will grow to about 4' x 4'. We currently have the species in production and should have it available for late summer.

Previous NC Wildflowers of the Year
2006 Amsonia tabernaemontana - "Eastern bluestar"
2005 Asclepias incarnata - "swamp milkweed"
2004 Vernonia noveboracensis - "New York ironweed"
2003 Eupatorium perfoliatum - "boneset"
2002 Penstemon laevigatus - "Eastern smooth beardtongue"
2001 Lobelia cardinalis - "cardinal flower"
2000 Aster oblongifolius var. angustatus - "Eastern aromatic aster"
1999 Heuchera americana - "american alumroot"
1998 Liatris squarrulosa - "Southern blazing star"
1997 Hibiscus moscheutos - "crimson-eyed rose-mallow"
1996 Aster concolor - "Eastern silvery aster"
1995 Rudbeckia laciniata - "green-head coneflower"
1994 Chasmanthium latifolium - "sea-oats"
1993 Lobelia siphilitica - "great blue lobelia"
1992 Baptisia australis - "blue wild indigo"
1991 Coreopsis auriculata - "coreopsis"
1990 Kosteletzkya virginica - "seashore-mallow"
1989 Oenothera fruticosa - "Southern sundrops"
1988 Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii - "black-eyed susan"
1987 Aquilegia canadensis - "Eastern columbine"
1986 Tiarella cordifolia var. collina - "foamflower"
1985 Asclepias tuberosa - "butterfly milkweed"
1984 Penstemon smallii - "Small's beardtongue"
1983 Lobelia cardinalis - "cardinal flower"
1982 Lobelia cardinalis - "cardinal flower"