False Sunflower
Heliopsis helianthoides
Also listed as Buphthalmum helianthoides
Also known as Oxeye Sunflower, Smooth Oxeye, Rough Oxeye
Climate Match for your location
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A cheerful perennial with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that bloom from midsummer through fall, resembling sunflowers. Highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators, it thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant once established.
Why grow it
False sunflower offers a longer bloom window than many true sunflower species, flowering reliably from midsummer into fall without deadheading. It maintains a more compact, shrubby form compared to tall annual sunflowers, making it better suited to perennial borders and mixed plantings. Once established, it requires less supplemental water than many ornamental perennials, which can reduce maintenance in drought-prone regions.
Watch out for
In humid climates, powdery mildew can develop on foliage, particularly if air circulation is poor. The plant may self-seed prolifically in ideal conditions, so deadheading spent flowers can help manage spread if volunteers are unwanted. Flowering and overall vigor decline noticeably in partial shade, even with otherwise good growing conditions.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A cheerful perennial with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that bloom from midsummer through fall, resembling sunflowers. Highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators, it thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant once established.
Climate Match for your location
See how well False Sunflower grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
False sunflower offers a longer bloom window than many true sunflower species, flowering reliably from midsummer into fall without deadheading. It maintains a more compact, shrubby form compared to tall annual sunflowers, making it better suited to perennial borders and mixed plantings. Once established, it requires less supplemental water than many ornamental perennials, which can reduce maintenance in drought-prone regions.
Watch out for
In humid climates, powdery mildew can develop on foliage, particularly if air circulation is poor. The plant may self-seed prolifically in ideal conditions, so deadheading spent flowers can help manage spread if volunteers are unwanted. Flowering and overall vigor decline noticeably in partial shade, even with otherwise good growing conditions.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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