False sunflower

False sunflowers are easily confused with perennial sunflowers, but they have the advantage of being more compact (less floppy) and blooming earlier so you can have more sunflowerlike flowers longer. Their brilliant yellow single, semidouble, or fully double flowers bloom over many weeks. They make excellent cut flowers. Tall varieties may require staking. Divide the plants every couple of years to ensure vigor.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

3-9

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

3-6 feet tall

Plant Width:

1-2 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers,Cut Flowers,Drought Tolerant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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'Hohlspiegel' false sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Hohlspiegel' has brilliant orange-yellow semidouble flowers with darker discs. The flower shape is slightly concave. It grows to 4 feet tall. Zones 4-9
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'Lorraine Sunshine' false sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Lorraine Sunshine' has stunning white leaves etched with bright green veins. Its yellow daisy flowers are long-blooming on 18-inch stems. Zones 3-9
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'Summer Sun' false sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides subsp. scabra 'Sommersonne' produces compact clumps of serrated leaves, above which bloom slightly double, 3-inch-wide golden daisies. It's very long-blooming. Zones 3-9
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Garden Plans

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Large Summer Sunny Border
Seaside Problem-Solving Garden Plan
Easy Streetside Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Aster

Asters in shades of vivid, royal purple make a startling color contrast with false sunflower's yellow daisies in full sun.

Artemisia

The silvery cut leaves of shrubby' Powis Castle' artemisia are a great foil for the brilliant yellow false sunflowers. They enjoy the same conditions.

Yarrow

Sun-loving 'Moonshine' yarrow echos false sunflower's striking yellow color but provides contrast with its flat flower heads.

Blue oat grass

For an informal meadow mood, plant blue oat grass in front of false sunflower for softness and complementary color.

Propagation

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Seed
Division
Stem Cuttings
Leaf Cuttings