Perennial of the Month-- August 2002 
Perennial of the Month-- August 2002
(heel-ee-op’siss)
Common name: Sunflower Heliopsis, False Sunflower
Family: Asteraceae (Aster, Composite, Daisy)
Height x Width: 4-5’ x 2-4’
Growth habit: upright, loosely branched
Growth Rate: moderate
Foliage: simple, ovate-lanceolate, serrated, rough, opposite.
Flowers: daisy-like flowers, golden, semi-double unlike most in genus, midsummer-fall, 3-4 inches across, quite showy with many flowers
Hardiness: zones 3 to 9, AHS heat zones 9 to 1
Soil: well drained
Light: full sun
Pests & Problems: few serious
Landscape Habit, Uses: middle of island beds, backs of borders; combines well with garden phlox, fall mums, shasta daisies, coneflowers (Echinacea), ornamental grasses such as Panicum ‘Prairie Sky’
Other Interest: common name from fact flowers resemble sunflowers only perennial, much smaller and short, and bloom earlier;
Other Culture: Division should be done every 2-3 years if grown in very rich soil, otherwise every five years is adequate. Don’t allow to dry out if possible, wilts readily, and may need staking if falling over when dry or if grown in part shade
Propagation: home—division as above, commercial—protected, only by licensed propagators
Sources: Blooms of
Bressingham growers, retailers