Common Name: ox eye
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Yellow rays and orange-yellow center disks
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy, Good Cut
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
Tolerate: Drought, Erosion, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Culture
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates drought, but does better if regularly watered. Tolerates wide range of soils, including poor, dry, and clayey. Tolerates some light shade, but plants grown in too much shade tend to require support. Remove spent flowers to extend the blooming season.
This cultivar comes true from seed.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Heliopsis helianthoides, commonly called oxeye sunflower or ox-eye daisy, is an upright, clump-forming, nearly glabrous, sunflower-like, short-lived perennial that is native to eastern and central North America. It typically grows to 3-4' tall and features daisy-like flowers (2-3” diameter) with yellow-orange rays surrounding brownish-yellow center cones. Flowers bloom throughout summer atop stiff stems clad with ovate, toothed leaves (to 6" long). The blooms are attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators. Small seeds are attractive to birds.
Plants in the genus Heliopsis are both similar in appearance to and closely related to those in the genus Helianthus, the true sunflower. Heliopsis is sometimes commonly called false sunflower.
Var. scabra differs from species plants by having hairy and rough-textured (scabrous) leaves and stems with the leaves being thicker. Upper leaves may be entire with basal leaves toothed. Cultivars of var. scabra are more commonly grown in gardens that the species itself.
Genus name comes from the Greek words helios meaning the sun and opsis meaning resembling in allusion to the rayed yellow flower heads.
Specific epithet means resembling the genus Helianthus.
'Sommersonne' is a compact, clump-forming, upright cultivar which typically grows 2-3' tall. Features single to double, daisy-like flowers (2-3" diameter) with golden yellow rays and deep orange-yellow center disks atop stiff stems that seldom need staking. Noted for its lengthy summer to early fall bloom period. Coarse, serrate, ovate to lanceolate, deep green foliage. Good fresh cut flower.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Red aphids are occasional visitors. Reportedly has some resistance to powdery mildew.
Uses
Provides long summer bloom for the perennial border or cutting garden.