Heliopsis helianthoides Tuscan Sun

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Tuscan Sun'® is the smallest cultivar of false sunflower available to date. This cousin of the sunflower forms a clump of neatly leafed stems and is adorned with a very long summer flowering period, both unassuming and full of good cheer. Its daisy-like flowers in warm golden yellow with an orange centre shine like little suns. This compact and branched variety, well suited to container gardening, is also more resistant to powdery mildew. Plant Heliopsis, they are excellent perennials for wildflower gardens, whose cultivation is within the reach of all gardeners, even beginners! 

Heliopsis belongs to the Asteraceae family. H. helianthoides, from which this new variety 'Tuscan Sun' originates, is native to North America, where it is usually found in open woodlands and tall grass prairies.

'Tuscan Sun' is a perennial plant with non-spreading woody roots. It forms a bushy clump, made up of many strong and well-branched stems, not exceeding 55-60 cm (22-24in) in height  with a spread that is almost equivalent.  Its growth is moderate to fast. Flowering occurs from June to September if faded flowers are regularly removed. The inflorescence appears at the end of each stem and consists of several heads (flower heads), 5 to 6cm (2in) wide. The flower heads bear golden yellow ray florets, arranged in a collar around a beautiful rounded orange central disc that turns brown in autumn. After the flowers, which are highly visited by insects, come seeds that birds love.  The foliage is distributed up to the top of the stems, it is bright green, rough, the leaves are 10cm (4in) long, lanceolate and dentate, somewhat cordate. The vegetation disappears in winter and regrows each spring from the stump.

Trends are quite inscrutable because the upright habit of Heliopsis, its long flowering period and its low requirements, are all keys that should open the door to every garden... but no! However, all specialists agree that they are excellent plants. 25 years ago, Alan Bloom, a famous perennial plant breeder in England, said: "These are certainly the last plants I would part with if I decided to eliminate the yellow colour from the borders in my garden". Combine 'Tuscan Sun' Heliopsis with other easy-going and exuberant perennials or annuals in wildflower gardens and sunny borders, such as mulleins, Scabious, dwarf daisies, Buenos Aires Verbenas, love-in-a-mist, and Cosmos, for example. It is a very good plant for flowering containers and homemade bouquets.