False Sunﬂower

False Sunﬂower

Provides long summer bloom for the perennial border or cutting garden. Also effective in a native plant or wild garden or as part of a naturalized planting or prairie area.

Botanical Name: Heliopsis helianthoides

Nom Français: Tournesol Vivace

Features

Bloom colour: Yellow

Blooms: Summer - Zone 5

Pollinators: Bees | Birds | Butterflies

Sun or Shade: Full Sun

Plant Type: Perennial

Height: Up to 5 feet (160 cms)

It grows well in hardiness zones: 3 to 9

The false sunflower blooms from June to August and is orange-yellow in colour. It is a perennial that, you guessed it, looks much like a smaller version of a sunflower. Heliopsis helianthoides is from Helios, who was the Greek sun god.

Planting

Fields, meadows, borders

Water requirement: Average Water Needs.

Chalk. clay, loam and sandy.

They are best planted in the spring or the fall and they will grow very quickly, although they are not likely to bloom in the first year of planting. In the fall, or late August, you can sow seeds directly and they should bloom by spring.

When planting in spring. start seeds indoors, 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. When started in spring, they are not likely to develop flowers until the next year.

Care

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Plants are less vigorous and stems need support in heavier shade. Remove spent flowers to extend bloom season.

Tolerates some light shade.

Aphids and powdery mildew can affect this plant. Providing good air circulation for your plants can ease both of these problems.

Pruning

Spread: 2.00 to 4.00 feet

Dead-heading is recommended to promote new bud growth and to keep a tidy appearance. False sunflowers make great cut flowers as well. They are clump-forming, rather than spreaders, which means dividing your plants every 2-3 years, in spring or fall, will help keep plants from dying in the centre. If you prefer a sturdier plant, as these may becoming top-heavy when overgrown, simply prune them back in spring. This will, however, delay the flowering period.

Considerations

The false sunflower is attractive to birds, bees and hummingbirds and are deer-resistent. They are easy to grow, are drought tolerant and hardy.

Native to Canada

Styling and Use

The false sunflower is used in medicinal drinks and for treatment of lung troubles. The leaves have also been used in a strong tea to reduce fevers and loosen phlegm. Stems have been used to treat malaria. They enjoy growing in grasslands and at the endge of woodlands. They are multi-stemmed and are therefore good for planting near other clusters of flowers.

Asters, Liatris spicata, Turk’s cap lily, wild bergamot, yellow coneflower, rosin weed