Wikimedia Commons
Asteraceae
False Sunflower
Heliopsis helianthoides
Loyalty, lasting cheer, perseverance.
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Heliopsis
- Native to
- North America
- Bloom season
- Summer, Early Fall
- Type
- Herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 90–150 cm
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil
- Average, well-drained
- Water
- Moderate; drought-tolerant
- Hardiness
- 3–9
- Lifespan
- Long-lived perennial
Did you know
- False sunflower looks almost identical to a true sunflower but is a much longer-blooming perennial — flowers last from June to September on a single plant.
- The genus name Heliopsis comes from the Greek for 'sun-like', and the species name helianthoides means 'resembling Helianthus' (true sunflower).
- Unlike the annual sunflower, false sunflower is rugged, low-maintenance, and drought-tolerant — perfect for prairie-style gardens.
- It's a goldmine for native pollinators, providing nectar and pollen for over 50 different bee species across its range.
- The 2024 Perennial Plant of the Year was a Heliopsis cultivar — 'Bressingham Doubloon' — chosen for its long bloom season and toughness.
Color meanings
Yellow
Steady joy