Common Name: ox eye
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Description: Orange and yellow bicolor
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy, Good Cut
Leaf: Colorful
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil
Culture
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates drought, but does better if regularly watered. Tolerates wide range of soils, including poor, dry, and clayey. Tolerates some light shade, but plants grown in too much shade tend to require support. Remove spent flowers to extend the blooming season.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Heliopsis helianthoides, commonly called oxeye sunflower or ox-eye daisy, is an upright, clump-forming, nearly glabrous, sunflower-like, short-lived perennial that is native to eastern and central North America. It typically grows to 3-4' tall and features daisy-like flowers (2-3” diameter) with yellow-orange rays surrounding brownish-yellow center cones. Flowers bloom throughout summer atop stiff stems clad with ovate, toothed leaves (to 6" long). The blooms are attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators. Small seeds are attractive to birds.
Plants in the genus Heliopsis are both similar in appearance to and closely related to those in the genus Helianthus, the true sunflower. Heliopsis is sometimes commonly called false sunflower.
Var. scabra differs from species plants by having hairy and rough-textured (scabrous) leaves and stems with the leaves being thicker. Upper leaves may be entire with basal leaves toothed. Cultivars of var. scabra are more commonly grown in gardens that the species itself.
Genus name comes from the Greek words helios meaning the sun and opsis meaning resembling in allusion to the rayed yellow flower heads.
Specific epithet means resembling the genus Helianthus.
'Burning Hearts' features dark purple leaves and stems with contrasting sunflower-like flowers with yellow ray petals and red-orange centers. The flowers are highly attractive to birds, butterflies, and other insect pollinators. Mature plants will reach up to 4' tall with a spread of 18".
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Red aphids are occasional visitors. Reportedly has some resistance to powdery mildew. Deer tend to avoid this plant.
Uses
Rock gardens, beds and borders. Also appropriate for containers.