Question
Hi Tom -- I just bought what I was told was a variegated foliage sunflower...I bought it at a local farmer's market, so there is no "official" description.  I can't find it in any of my gardening books -- it has a smallish (about 2" diameter) bright yellow flower that looks much more like a daisy than a sunflower -- the reason I bought it is for its striking extremely variegated foliage -- the leaves are almost white, with green markings.  It stands about 2.5 feet high, and I was told it is an extremely hardy perennial (I live in zone 7-8).

I am beginning to doubt this is acutally a member of the helianthus family, as I can't find anything like it in any books or on the web......does this ring any bells with you?

thanks --
lc

Answer
Hi LC
Thanx for your question.  I haven't seen any sunflowers with variegated foliage yet myself but that doesn't mean they don't exist.  There are some sunflowers (helianthus family) that are perennial like some of the sunflowers native to my state (Kansas).  Sunflowers do tend to be very hardy.  Keep looking and asking around it may be a new developement.
Tom