Heliopsis helianthoides 'Summer Nights'️

Also known as false sunflower, Heliopsis forms clumps of sturdy, tall stems lined with toothed, lance-shaped leaves that are topped with 2-3 inch yellow sunflower-like blossoms with brown centers in June.  The variety 'Summer Nights' has reddish stems and purple tinted foliage. Reportedly flops in part shade. Ours have fared fairly well without staking in full sun. This is a relatively new addition to the back of the sunny border in our garden. May be slow to emerge after overwintering. Deer, woodchucks and rabbits may demolish emerging plants if not ringed with wire in early spring. We have found that our Heliopsis suffers quite a bit of overwinter damage/kill.

We removed our Heliopsis in 2024. Animal and winter damage took too great a toll on an otherwise interesting plant.