Helianthus ‘Faded Sunshine’

In 2021 I was driving 70 mph through the Florida panhandle admiring all the yellow perennial sunflowers in bloom. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of one with pale, nearly white blooms. I exited, back-tracked, and eventually found the plant and ruined a pair of shoes crossing a muddy ditch to collect a sample. After growing the plant out, we found it to have garden merit for its compact habit and form. Its flowers open a normal yellow then eventually fade to a really unique cream color. Be patient as it does bloom late. A few botanists have keyed it out to be Helianthus angustifolia but I’m not convinced