Helianthus simulans ‘Matanzas Creek’ is a lovely light lemon yellow-flowered form of the US native sunflower, discovered growing by Matanzas Creek in Sonoma County, California. Since it isn’t native there, we’re not sure if it was just vacationing when it was ruthlessly captured by the folks at Digging Dog…the horticultural bounty hunters. For us, Helianthus ‘Matanzas Creek’ makes a large patch to 8′ tall, topped in mid-October with sprays of light yellow flowers…a superb color break. Unlike some forms of Helianthus simulans, H. ‘Matanzas Creek’ spreads to form a 6′ wide colony in 5 years.
