Japanese name: コヒマワリ（小向日葵） Scientific name:Helianthus ×multiflorus
[Overview]
A hybrid of the sunflower and the wild sunflower, a perennial 0.6–1.5 m tall.
It has underground stems.
The stem branches in the upper part.
The leaves are simple and alternate, ovate, with toothed or entire margins.
They have long leaf stalks.
A single flower head 5–7 cm across is borne at the stem tip.
The flower head consists of ray florets and tubular florets, and there are single-flowered and double-flowered forms.
The fruit is an achene.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by division.
If planted with spacing of at least 30 cm between plants, replanting is unnecessary for 2–3 years.
It prefers fertile soil that is sunny, well drained, moisture-retentive and well aerated, but it grows well in most places as long as they are sunny and well drained.
It does not like places that are too dry; especially in the early stage of growth, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries so that it does not run short of water, but once established, rainfall is sufficient.
If a base fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizer is particularly necessary.
Pests and diseases include aphids and spider mites.
