Heliopsis helianthoides False Sunflower Ox-eye Sunflower 
Seed & Potted Plants
(hee-lee-OP-sis  hee-lee-an-THOY-deez)
Easyliving Native Perennial Wildflowers
Native Wild Flower Plants & Seed for Home Landscaping & Prairie Restoration
 

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We have Heliopsis helianthoides (False Sunflower) potted plants available, $4.00 each plus shipping.
Please contact us by email with your address for shipping charges on Heliopsis helianthoides potted plants

Heliopsis helianthoides, false sunflower, ox-eye sunflower is a versatile plant occurring naturally in prairies and savannas from Ontario and New York to Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and south to Missouri, Colorado, and New Mexico.   Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Seeds germinate without pretreatment.

Heliopsis = Sun
helianthoides = Resembling a sunflower

Alternate Names

Smooth Oxeye, False Sunflower, Oxeye, Oxeye Daisy, Heliopsis Sunflower

 Uses

 It is reported that American Indians made a tea from this plant as a cure for various lung ailments.

 Landscaping and Wildlife:  Smooth oxeye is a very hardy plant that produces many attractive, yellow flowers throughout the summer.  It does well in flower gardens, especially in drier areas, and is relatively maintenance free.  It also makes an attractive roadside plant.  Insects are attracted to its bright flowers during the summer, and birds are attracted to its seed in the fall.

Description and Adaptation

Smooth Oxeye is a member of the daisy family, Asteraceae.  It is a vigorous, upright, native, perennial forb growing to .4-2 meters in height.  The stem is smooth while the leaves are coarsely serrated, having rough, siliceous-based hairs on both surfaces.   The stems may be topped with a single, yellow flower, or may branch in to multiple stems with many yellow flowers.  The flowers have 10 or more rays and are 3-7 cm in diameter.  Unlike sunflowers, each ray may form a fruit that yields a viable seed.  The seed is smooth and hard having four sides with fine hairs for wind distribution of seed.  It generally does not have a pappus.  Though it is a perennial, it is often short-lived.

 Distribution: This species is widely distributed across the eastern half of the United States, though it is most often found in the prairie regions of the central United States.  It prefers dry soil and open spaces, but will also tolerate moist areas.  It can often be found in disturbed areas.

 Establishment

Smooth Oxeye can be established from seed.  Planting should occur in the spring, between March and April.  Cold, damp stratification for 30 days at 4^o C is suggested to improve germination, but is reportedly not necessary.  The seed may be drilled on 32-40 inch rows at 4.7 pounds per acre or broadcast at 5.2 pounds per acre.  The target rate is 45 PLS/ft when drilled and 15 PLS/ft² when broadcasted. 

 Management

Smooth Oxeye is a very hardy plant with relatively few problems.  This species has proven to perform best in the 11.8+ cm (4.6 inches +) precipitation zone and moderate levels of N, P, K are desirable.  

 Pests and Potential Problems

Birds will feed on the seed of Smooth Oxeye in the fall.  This may be of concern to the commercial growers.    Plant size often inhibits cultivation after 8 weeks when planted in rows. 

The map below shows areas where native false Sunflower plants grow wild but it can be planted and will grow over a much wider area than shown.  USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 9.

Please contact us by email for shipping charges on Heliopsis helianthoides, false sunflower, ox-eye sunflower potted plants 
Use the chart below for shipping charges on Heliopsis helianthoides flower seeds, to order copy the order form or email questions, comments & orders to john

please contact us by email with your address for shipping charges & availability on potted plants

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The minimum seed order amount is $10, this can be a combination of different seeds.

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Easyliving Wildflowers
PO Box  522
Willow Springs,  Mo.  65793
phone-fax 417-469-2611 

Heliopsis helianthoides, false sunflower, ox-eye sunflower plant distribution map complements of USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1
  (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.