Heliopsis

( hee - lee - OPP - sis )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus, commonly called False Sunflower or Oxeye Sunflower, is filled with species of flowering perennial subshrubs that need full sun and moderate water to perform well in the garden. Their golden-yellow flowers will attract butterflies and other pollinators to the garden. All varieties make great flowers for borders and make wonderful cut flowers for fresh arrangements. These flowers are at home in informal, cottage, prairie, meadow, native and pollinator gardens.

Heliopsis Species and Varietals

The Heliopsis genus is a member of the plant family Asteraceae, and includes 18 species. These plants grow best in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 or Sunset growing zones 1-11 and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map. See the descriptions below for more information.

Heliopsis gracilis (Coastal Plain Oxeye, Coastal Plain Sunflower-Everlasting, Smooth Oxeye, Pinewoods Oxeye)
These plants, native to the southeastern and south-central regions of the United States, form perennial herbs to 31 inches tall that spread via underground rhizomes. Flowers are bright yellow.

Heliopsis helianthoides (Rough Oxeye, Smooth Oxeye, False Sunflower, Eastern Sunflower-Everlasting)
They are native to the eastern areas of North America, with their range moving westward to Arizona. Most reach up to 3-4 feet tall and 3 feet wide at maturity. Flowers are yellow, and blooms may need to be staked to prevent flowering stems from drooping over. Commonly grown cultivars are listed and described below.

'Biaco del Sole'
Compact growth with intense yellow flowers.

'Bit of Honey'
Cream foliage with green veining and yellow double flowers.

'Bleeding Hearts'
Deep green to purple leaves and red to orange flowers.

'Bressingham Doubloon'
Flowers are golden yellow and semi-double.

'Burning Hearts'
With red-centered yellow flowers.

'Loraine Sunshine'
White leaves with green veining, grows to about 2.5 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide.

'Prairie Sunset'
Golden yellow flowers with a dark red spot on each petal.

'Rays for Days'

'Summer Sun'
Gets 2.5 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide. Bright yellow flowers that can be either single or semi-double.

'Tuscan Sun'
Compact grower, to 1.5-2 feet tall and just as wide.

Heliopsis longipes (Chilcuague, Azteca Gold Root, Chil Cuas, Chilcuan, Chilcmecatl, Aztec Root, Chile de Palo, Palo de Duende)
This rare species is native to north-central Mexico, and was a popular medicinal plant historically in the region. It is also used as a condiment in foods and in alcoholic beverages. Plants reach up to 12-24 inches tall (optimally up to 60 inches) and have a bushy, compact habit with yellow, daisy-form flowers. These plants have been overharvested for their roots in their native habitats, leading to conservation concerns.

Caring for Heliopsis

Heliopsis plants are typically grown from seed, which can be sown on moist ground in fall on the soil surface. Do not cover seeds with too much substrate, as they need a good amount of light to germinate. They will germinate in springtime about two weeks after the soil warms up. Plant these flowers in a space in the garden that receives full sun. Ideally, they should be getting between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day for best flowering and performance. Soil should be well-draining, moderately fertile, and with a pH in the range of 5.5 to 7.5. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water new plants regularly as they establish a strong root system. At maturity, these plants are considered to be relatively drought tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for most of the year. In times of extended drought, provide additional irrigation.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning Heliopsis plants is simple: remove spent blooms and any unsightly foliage. Late in the season, these flowers can have a tendency to get leggy, especially if they are grown in too much shade. Plants can be cut down to about four inches tall at this point, and a flush of new growth and flowering will be triggered. Varieties with taller stems and larger blooms may need to be staked to remain upright. All species will form clumps over time, which will need to be divided to maintain plant health. For instructions on how to divide Heliopsis plants, see the Propagation section below.

Caring for Heliopsis in Containers
Oxeye Sunflower plants do very well in the ground, and can also be grown in containers. Choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Heliopsis plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot.

Harvesting Heliopsis
Heliopsis, or False Sunflower, is a wonderful cut flower. They have long, thin stems and large, bright flowering heads, sometimes bicolored. These flowers are in bloom from mid-summer through early fall (between July and September). They combine well with many different types of flowers in fresh arrangements. Harvest flowers when the ray florets are just beginning to lift and unfurl from the center disc but before they are fully opened. The best time to harvest is in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are at their coolest. Cut flower stems at their base using sharp, clean shears or snips, remove the lower leaves from the stem, and drop them in a bucket of cool water. The vase life of False Sunflower cut flowers is around 14 days.

Heliopsis longipes, or Chilcuague, plants are sometimes cultivated for their roots, which have antibiotic, analgesic and antifungal properties. Roots are typically harvested between 2 and 3 years from sowing seed. The best time of the year to harvest roots is in late fall to early spring, while the plant is dormant. Starting from the outside, start to dig up the entire plant with the snake-like taproot intact. Keep in mind that the taproot can go quite deep into the soil, sometimes reaching Once the plant is out of the ground, remove growing stems from the roots and discard. Remove all dirt and debris from roots, and then rinse them. Cut the root into small pieces before drying, as they will become very tough after the process and be hard to cut. Hang the root pieces in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. They are completely dried when they are hard and snap easily. Once completely dried, roots can be bundled and stored in airtight containers in a cool, dark space to maintain potency.

Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. Foraging and consumption of plant parts should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website.

Propagation

Heliopsis, or Oxeye, can be propagated either by using division, cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting or division methods. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your False Sunflower plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Heliopsis by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new flowers.

Propagating Heliopsis by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods are pretty easy to spot, they're large and left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 14-21 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Heliopsis by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost, and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring, and needs to be done every three to five years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Gather your materials. Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the roots. Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water them in thoroughly, ensuring that good drainage is occurring.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout the following growing season.