False Sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides ( Ox-Eye Sunflower )
A long lived, clumping perennial, reaching a maximum height of 6 ( rarely over 5 ) x 4 feet, that is native to floodplains and open woodlands in eastern North America ( from Saskatchewan to Kenora, Ontario to Sault Ste Marie to Wiarton, Ontario to Haliburton, Ontario to New Brunswick; south to New Mexico to Louisiana to central Georgia ). In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was noted as uncommon at Point Pelee and the Lake Erie islands; abundant on the Ohio shore during the 1800s. It was rare at Detroit during presettlement era. This sturdy perennial is great for use in borders or commercial mass plantings.
The coarsely-toothed, oval leaves are up to 8 x 3.2 ( rarely over 6 ) inches in size. The foliage is smooth and mid-green.
The golden-yellow to orange-yellow flowers, up to 4 inches across, are borne over a very long period from early summer to mid-autumn if it is deadheaded.
The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on moist, well drained soil. Fully established plants are moderately drought tolerant and very heat tolerant. Easy to grow except in soils that waterlog expecially during winter. Taller varieties can be cut back by half during early summer for more sturdy compact habit at bloom time. Deadheading prolongs blooming. It is not generally bothered by pests or disease other than the rare aphids or mildew. Snails and slugs may attack emerging plants however this does not occur commonly.
Propagation is from seed or division every 2 or 3 years done during spring or fall.

* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, PA



* photo of unknown internet source

* photo taken on July 25 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo of unknown internet source

* photo taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photo taken on July 23 2015 in Bayfield, ON

* photo taken on Sep 19 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 16 2016 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photos taken on Aug 13 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 15 2018 in Midland, ON

* photos taken on June 29 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 1 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey PA

* photos taken on July 24 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 22 2021 in Bayfield, ON

* photos taken on Aug 7 2023 @ Howard Community College, Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 27 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 10 2023 @ Collingwood Arboretum, Collingwood, ON

* photos taken on July 1 2024 @ Howard Comm. College, Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 16 2024 in Bayfield, ON

'Benzinggold'
Reaches up to 6 feet, with very large golden-orange ( with deep-orange disc ) flowers up to 5 inches across.

'Bleeding Hearts'
Sturdy and bushy in habit, reaching up to 4 x 3.3 feet.
The foliage is glossy deep purple, later turning to bronze-green. The foliage constrast nicely with the black stems.
The flowers, up to 5 inches wide, are orangish-red at first, later turning to golden-yellow with a deep red center. They appear early summer until mid-autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 8

* photos taken on May 29 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 9 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 24 2024 in Columbia, MD

'Burning Hearts'
Fast growing, reaching up to 4 x 3 feet.
The toothed, ovate leaves average 4.5 x 2.5 inches in size. The foliage and stems are deep purple, often turning to bronze-green where summers are hot.
The flowers are intense golden-yellow with orangish-red centers. The very large flowers appear during mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 8

* photos taken on June 20 2024 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on June 20 2024 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on July 18 2024 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on Aug 12 2024 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on Aug 14 2024 @ Coventry Gardens, Windsor, ON

* photos taken on Sep 5 2024 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on Oct 15 2024 in Ellicott City, MD

'Double Sunstruck'
Similar to 'Loraine Sunshine' except with very double, intense orangish-yellow flowers.

'Goldgefieder'
Reaches up to 5 feet in height, with golden-yellow, double flowers.

* photo taken on Aug 4 2012 in Bayfield, Ontario

'Karat'
Reaches up to 4 feet with very large, single yellow flowers borne early summer to mid autumn.

* photo taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario

'Light of Loddon'
Bright golden-orange, double flowers; otherwise identical to species.

* photo taken on July 17 2013 in Clarksville, MD

* photo taken on July 17 2016 in Bayfield, Ontario

'Loraine Sunshine'
Dwarf, dense, upright and rounded in habit, reaching a maximum size of 3 x 3 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet, with very showy, variegated foliage that is white with deep green veins. The ovate leaves average 3.6 x 1.6 inches in size.
The large, golden-yellow flowers, up to 2.2 inches wide, are borne early summer until autumn frost.
Requires partial shade and consistantly moist soil.

* photos taken on July 5 2014 in Elkridge, MD

* photo taken on Jul 19 2017 @ Rideau Hall, Ottawa, ON

* photo taken on Sep 20 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 16 2021 in Columbia, MD

'New Hybrids'
Reaches up to 6 x 5 feet. This is among the fastest growing of prairie flowers but has no rhizomes. The flowers are a mix of semi-double to double, pale yellow to orange-yellow flowers, borne mid summer to early autumn.

* photos taken on Aug 2 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario

'Prairie Sunset'
Fast growing, reaching up to 6 x 4 feet, with stiff purple stems abundantly bearing showy deep yellow ( with orange to red center ring ), single flowers over a long season.
The foliage is deep green with purple veins.

var. 'scabra'
The stems and leaves are rough. The double flowers are orange-yellow.

* photo taken on June 4 2019 in Columbia, MD

'Summer Green'
Moderate growing and upright clumping in habit, reaching up to 4 x 2 feet in 2 years, eventually wider.
The very attactive foliage is creamy-white with deep green veins. The ovate leaves average 3 x 1.6 inches in size.
The bright yellow ( with orange center ) flowers, up to 1.7 inches wide, appear all summer long.
Hardy zones 3 to 8

'Summer Nights'
Reaches about same size as the species with foliage that is reddish-purple during spring, later turning to deep green.
The flowers are golden-yellow with an orangish-red central disk.
The stems are also red.

* photos taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Summer Sun'
Reaches a maximum size of 5.2 x 5.3 ( rarely over 4 ) feet, with golden-yellow to orange, semi-double daisies, up to 4 inches across, borne early summer to early autumn. It is extremely heavy blooming.
The glossy deep green foliage is very attractive.
Often breeds true from seed.

* photo taken on Aug 4 2012 in Bayfield, Ontario

* photo taken on July 10 2013 in Howard Co, MD

* photos taken on Aug 1 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

* photos taken on June 22 2014 in Howard Co., MD

* photos taken on on Aug 23 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken by Dr. Nick V. Kurzenko @ CalPhotos

* photos taken on June 25 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 25 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 22 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 27 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 1 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 23 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 1 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 4 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 8 2022 in Jackson Park, Windsor, ON

'Tuscan Sun'
Vigorous but very compact in habit, reaching only 2 x 2 feet in 2 years, eventually to 3 x 2 ( rarely over 2 ) feet.
It bears bright yellow ( with gold-orange center ), single flowers, up to 2 inches across, from early summer to early autumn.
The deep green foliage is powdery mildew resistant. The leaves are up to 4 x 1.6 inches in size.

* photos taken on June 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 17 2013 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on on Aug 23 2014 in Elkridge, MD

* photos taken on July 27 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey PA

* patent photo