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Helianthus pumilus

Nutt.

Little Sunflower

G5Secure Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.148217
Element CodePDAST4N170
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusHelianthus
Other Common Names
little sunflower (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, 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 Date2025-11-25
Change Date2025-11-25
Edition Date2025-11-25
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Helianthus pumilus is a wide-ranging perennial herb found in dry, rocky soil in open areas, including shortgrass prairies, sagebrush grassland, shrubland, and open woodlands. It occurs in the western United States at the base of the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains from south-central Montana, eastern Wyoming, and central Colorado. There are over 400 occurrences, which potentially face threats from development, conversion to rangeland, 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 Comments
Helianthus pumilus occurs in the western United States at the base of the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains from south-central Montana, eastern Wyoming, and central Colorado (FNA 2006, Montana Natural Heritage Program 2025). Range extent was estimated to be over 100,000 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 Comments
By 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 400 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, conversion to rangeland, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range and large number of occurrences.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Helianthus pumilus grows in dry, rocky soil in open areas, including shortgrass prairies, sagebrush grassland, shrubland, and open woodlands (FNA 2006, SEINet 2025).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
MontanaS1Yes
UtahS1Yes
WyomingS4Yes
ColoradoS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (3)
Colorado (1)
AreaForestAcres
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
Wyoming (2)
AreaForestAcres
Laramie PeakMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest28,608
Walker PrairieBighorn National Forest62,434
References (7)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006c. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 21. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 8: Asteraceae, part 3. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 616 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  4. Kartesz, 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.
  5. Montana Natural Heritage Program. 2025. Montana Field Guide. Online. Available: http://fieldguide.mt.gov (Accessed 2025).
  6. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).