[4] It is native to eastern and central North America from Saskatchewan east to Newfoundland and south as far as Texas, New Mexico, and Georgia.

The toothed leaf blades are oval to triangular or lance-shaped and may be smooth or hairy or rough in texture.

The rays are fertile, having a small forked pistil at the base; this distinguishes them from true sunflowers.

[5] In the wild, H. helianthoides may be found in wooded areas and tallgrass prairie, and sometimes along roadsides.

scabra ("rough")[10] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:[11] The Botanical Latin species name helianthoides means “resembling sunflowers”.