NORTH
AMERICAN OX-EYE
Family COMPOSITAE
Heliopsis species
Perennial
The genus consists of ten species, all native
to North America, but two only appear to have
entered our gardens.
The plants, both in habit of growth and form of
flower, have much in common with the Helianthus.
Heliopsis scabra has produced many variations of garden
origin, notably incomparabilis, with large semi-double
orange-rayed flowers which are centred with yellow
discs, the whole flower being six or more inches
across, borne on stems of three to four feet;
patula, golden yellow flowers on four-feet stems;
and zinniaeflora, with full double flowers.
There are a number of double forms of attractive
appearance and useful for border planting.
Heliopsis laevis, five feet tall, is a single-flowered
yellow species.
These plants will grow well in soil that has been
well cultivated, enriched with manure and well
drained. Valuable plants for herbaceous borders
blooming, as they do, over a very long period.
Propagation is by division in late winter.
The flowering season is from July to September.
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