Helianthus

If the name Helianthus isn't familiar then the common name of sunflower will be much more familiar. From the Greek, helios, 'sun' and anthos, 'flower'. They hail from across North America and down into Mexico, from dry prairies and meadows, with some in moister woodland locations. The perennial species, tend to be smaller than the typical annual sunflower (H. annuus), but still produce yellow to orange/red, open-facing sunflowers, in profusion and in a reasonable soil. H. tuberosus, the edible Jerusalem artichoke, produces the typical flowers, but only after a long hot summer.