Torr. & Gray
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.134479
Element CodePDAST4N100
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusHelianthus
Other Common NamesHélianthe de Nuttall (FR) Nuttall's sunflower (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-11-14
Change Date1986-12-18
Edition Date2025-11-14
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsHelianthus nuttallii is a wide-ranging perennial herb found in a variety of open habitats, including prairies, subalpine meadows, sedge meadows, swales, springs, streams and riverbanks, swamps, open slopes, and disturbed habitats, such as ditches and roadsides. It occurs in central and western North America from Manitoba west to British Columbia, Canada, and south to Iowa, Oklahoma, and New Mexico west to California in the United States. It is introduced in eastern Canada. There are over 300 estimated occurrences, which face threats from trampling and grazing in pastures, rights-of-way maintenance, hydrological alteration, invasive species, and other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsHelianthus nuttallii occurs in central and western North America from Manitoba west to British Columbia, Canada, and south to Iowa, Oklahoma, and New Mexico west to California in the United States (FNA 2006). It is introduced in eastern Canada (Brouillet et al. 2025). Range extent was estimated to be over 4 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is threatened by trampling and grazing in pastures, rights-of-way maintenance, hydrological alteration, invasive species, and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species (NatureServe 2025). However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.