Plants: Heliopsis helianthoides - False Sunflower, Ox-Eye

False Sunflower, also called oxeye, has 2 to 3 inch golden yellow flowers that are beautiful when used in floral arrangements. The plant grows 2 to 6 feet tall in light shade to full sun. It grows best in average, well-drained, moist garden soil. This hardy perennial tolerates drought but increases more rapidly in fertile soil. Flowers attract nectar seeking butterflies and birds enjoy the ripe seeds. This is an exceptionally long-blooming flower for the cutting garden.

False Sunflower is accented well in a butterfly garden or prairie meadow when planted with coneflowers, blazing stars, Asters, and prairie grasses. This versatile plant occurs naturally in prairies and savannas from Ontario and New York to Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and south to Missouri, Colorado, and New Mexico. Zones 3 to 9. Asteraceae (Aster Family) This is fast becoming a very popular garden flower because of its undemanding nature, and the spectacular display of flowers a single plant produces during its 8-12 week bloom period.

Publisher: Hirt's Gardens