Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Herbaceous PerennialSynonym

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Summer Sun'

false sunflower 'Sommersonne'

A clump-forming, herbaceous perennial to 1.2m tall, with ovate leaves. From late summer to early autumn it bears single, occasionally semi-double flowerheads, with deep golden yellow ray florets and brownish-yellow disc florets. A good plant to attract pollinating insects and also makes a long-lasting cut flower

Synonyms

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Summer Sun'
Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra Summer Sun

Save to My plants

Buy this plant

Plant nurseries
8 suppliers

Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Heliopsis are robust perennials with stiff, erect stems; opposite, lance-shaped leaves and showy rich yellow to orange flowers similar to sunflowers
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Divide every 2-3 years to maintain vigour. May require staking in exposed sites. See staking perennials

Propagation

Propagate by seed, division, or basal cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Prairie planting
Wildlife gardens
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back stems to ground level in early winter

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.