Heliopsis helianthoides Asahi

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Asahi' is a variety of false sunflower that is very robust, with fully-double flowers of golden yellow colour, beautifully contrasted with its tender green foliage. It blooms continuously, even in scorching sun, from June to October, or even November in mild climates, as long as it receives some water. Its flowers are carried by sturdy and stout stems that do not require staking. Plant some Heliopsis: these sunflower relatives are excellent perennials for rustic or naturalistic flowerbeds, and their cultivation is within the reach of all gardeners, even beginners.

Heliopsis belongs to the Asteraceae family. H. helianthoides var. scabra, from which this hybrid variety 'Asahi' originates, is a botanical species native to North America. In the wild, it is usually found in open woodlands and tall grass prairies. Heliopsis is very hardy, heat resistant, and relatively water-efficient.

The 'Asahi' Heliopsis is a perennial plant with a woody rhizomatous base, non-running, and non-invasive. It forms a bushy clump that does not spread much over time, composed of numerous solid and branched leafy stems. The overall height is approximately 90cm (35in) with a spread of 30-35cm (12-14in). Its growth rate is moderate to fast. Flowering occurs from June to October if faded flowers are regularly removed and the soil remains slightly moist. The inflorescence appears at the end of each stem and consists of several heads or heads measuring 5 to 6cm (2in) wide. The heads bear several rows of golden yellow ray florets, which are not very wide and have serrated edges. After the flowers, which are highly visited by insects, come the seeds that birds love. The foliage extends up to the top of the stems and is fairly light green in this variety. The 10cm (4in) long leaves are lanceolate, somewhat triangular, and more or less dentate along the edges. The foliage, deciduous, disappears in winter and regrows each spring from the base.

This Heliopsis has everything to please, as it is reliable and generous, it only lacks recognition. Indeed, Heliopsis remains little known among gardeners, even though all specialists agree that they are excellent perennial plants. It does not weaken under the sun, does not bend its stems under bad weather, and does not invade adjacent plantings, even though it is extraordinarily floriferous. Try it in your garden, you won't regret it. Combine 'Asahi' Heliopsis with other tall, easy-to-grow perennials such as hybrid mulleins, Buenos Aires verbena, tansies, Heleniums, and grasses like Pennisetum... Beneficial for pollinators, it is a great plant for homemade bouquets.