These cheerful sunflowers grow in bushy forms, up to three feet tall from tough, tap-rooted crowns. Stems and leaves have stiff hairs and leaves are dotted with glands. The disk is yellow in this species, and surrounded by about ten ray flowers, also yellow.  Each disk flower is subtended by an entire or three-lobed chaffy bract. Found in dry, open areas with rocky soil. Will adapt to coarse loamy soils, drought tolerant, blooms June to July. Highly favored by native bees and classified as being of special value to them by Xerces, birds like the seeds. Good for erosion control on steep slopes. Helianthus pumilis is a perennial.