How to Grow and Care for Heliopsis

False sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) differs from true sunflowers because not only can its disk florets produce seeds, but also its ray florets. With true sunflowers, only the disk florets are seed-producing. You'll find this pretty wildflower throughout much of the North American continent. They look gorgeous in a cut flower arrangement.

Heliopsis scabra is native to eastern and central North America growing 40 to 150 cm tall. The toothed leaf blades are oval to triangular or lance-shaped. Each flower head contains yellow ray florets which are generally 2 to 4 cm long. At the center are many yellow to brownish disc florets.

This cultivar was created for visual appeal and outstanding hardiness and comes from the false sunflower plant. It grows easily and stands up well against heat and drought, with bright golden blooms that show themselves for eight weeks. The false sunflower 'Goldgefieder' grows upright in clumps with tall, stiff stems.

False sunflower 'Asahi' is a densely-branched variety of False sunflower notable for its unique, spectacular golden blooms. It is favored for cutting gardens because flowers can last up to two weeks after cutting. The name Asahi means morning sun in Japanese, so this cultivar was presumably named for its sunshine blooms.