Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra Burning Hearts

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Burning Hearts' is an excellent new variety, which warms up dull autumn days with its semi-double yellow suns with an incandescent orange-red heart. The bright flowers stand tall on strong and rigid stems, above a purple-green foliage that is particularly decorative. This beautiful perennial is both similar in appearance and closely related to the famous sunflower, Helianthus. It is an undemanding plant, suitable for well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. Its great vigour and simplicity make it ideal for the back of borders and wildflower compositions.

Heliopsis 'Burning Hearts' belongs to the Asteraceae family. Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra, from which it originates, is native to North America, where it is usually found in open woodlands and tall grass prairies, less commonly along roadsides.

The cultivar 'Burning Hearts' is a non-invasive woody perennial. It forms a bushy clump, composed of numerous sturdy stems that can reach 120cm (47in) in height when in bloom and spread 60cm (24in) wide. Its growth rate is moderate to fast. The flowering period occurs from June to September-October. The inflorescence appears at the end of branched stems and consists of several heads (capitules), which themselves are composed of semi-double, ligulate flowers in yellow to orange-red (these are the 'petals') and brownish florets forming the disc. The deciduous foliage is distributed along the entire length of the stems, it is dark green-purple, rough, and the leaves are lanceolate, dentate, and somewhat cordate.

Trends in gardening can be quite puzzling as the upright habit, long flowering period, and low maintenance requirements of these perennials should make them suitable for all gardens... but no! Nevertheless, all experts agree that they are excellent perennial plants. 25 years ago, Alan Bloom, a renowned perennial plant breeder in England, said: "They are certainly the last plants I would part with if I decided to eliminate yellow from the borders in my garden." Associate Heliopsis 'Burning Hearts' with other tall, easy-going perennials such as hybrid Verbascums, Buenos Aires verbena, tansies, Heleniums, Physalis franchetii... It is a great plant for quickly filling the back of a border.