Stephen Albert
Heliopsis — commonly called false sunflower or oxeye — bears yellow or orange daisy-like flowers from late summer to early fall. False sunflower is an upright medium-sized perennial with large lance-shaped leaves.
Heliopsis is a member of the aster family. Species members of the Heliopsis genus are native North American wildflowers. They bear sunflower-like flower heads with golden yellow ray florets or petals with darker yellow disk florets. There are about a dozen species in the genus.
Heliopsis are showy flowers that will stand out in mid summer to early autumn flower border.
Get to know Heliopsis
- Plant type: Perennial
- Growing Zones and range: Zones 4 to 9
- Hardiness: Hardy to -30°F (-34°C)
- Height and width: 3 to 6 feet (1-2m) tall; 1 to 2 feet wide
- Foliage: Coarsley branched with ovate to lance-shaped leaves with toothed margins; plants are clump-forming
- Flowers: Daisies in clouds of yellow and gold; bright orange-yellow flower heads are 3 inches wide or wider
- Flower colors: Yellow, bright orange-yellow
- Bloom time: Late summer to frost
- Uses: Mixed borders; plant next to other plants False Sunflower can lean on; plant in groups
- Common name: False sunflower, ox-eye
- Botanical name: Heliopsis helianthoides
- Family: Asteraceae
- Origin: North America
Where to plant Heliopsis
- Grow false sunflower in full sun.
- Plant false sunflowers in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil.
Heliopsis uses and companions
- Use Heliopsis in beds and borders. Heliopsis combines well with ornamental grasses.
- Good garden companions for Heliopsis include Anthemis, Aster, Chrysanthemum, Delphinium, Helenium, Hemerocallis, Sedum, Solidago.
When to plant Heliopsis
- Set false sunflowers in the garden in spring.
- Divide clumps in spring or fall and replant them immediately.
- Start seed in spring.
Planting and spacing Heliopsis
- Space false sunflowers 1 to 2 feet apart. Plant in groups so false sunflowers can support one another.
- Sow seed 1/4 inch deep in well-prepared soil; seeds can be started indoors a few weeks before the last frost in spring.
How to water and feed Heliopsis
- Keep the soil evenly moist.
- Fertilize false sunflowers every 6 weeks with an all-purpose fertilizer or work a 9-month slow-release fertilizer into the soil early in spring.
Heliopsis care
- False sunflowers lean so plant them next to a plant that can support them.
- Trim spent flowers away to encourage more blooms.
- Divide false sunflower every 2 to 4 years to keep the plant strong.
- False sunflowers are susceptible to powdery mildew and rust.
Heliopsis propagation
- Divide dormant crowns between late autumn and early spring.
- Heliopsis seeds germinate in 21 to 28 days at 65° to 70°F (18
- Divide dormant crowns between late autumn and early spring.
- Heliopsis seeds germinate in 21 to 28 days at 65° to 70°F (18°-21°C).
- Sow seeds in spring.
Heliopsis varieties to grow
- Heliopsis helianthoides: upright yellow, daisy-like flowers up to 3 inches (7.5cm) across rise above lance-shaped green leaves to 6 inches (15cm) long. There are many cultivars with double and single flowers in gold and yellow, some with green centers; ‘Hohlspiegel’ has semi-double orange-yellow flowers and grows to 4 feet tall; ‘Goldgrunherz’ has semi-double flowers with lime-green centers and grows to 3 feet (1m); ‘Sommersonne’ has single yellow flowers and grows to 3 feet (1m) tall.
