Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Bleeding Hearts' - Western Ox-eye cultivar

Sizes available: Landscape plug, (available 6/4/26), 6.00 each or 10 for 48.00, pre-orders welcome, mix and match okay.

Basics: zones 3-9, 36-48" x 18-24", full sun (maybe a bit of shade), large yellow-red daisies atop foliage tinted a dark purple-green during the summer. Will perform and look best with a bit of moisture, but can withstand occasional drought.

Common names: Ox-eye Sunflower cultivar - the species is also called False Sunflower and Smooth Oxeye

Family: Asteraceae

Origin/Distribution: This cultivar was developed and introduced by Jelitto Seeds in 2018. The species has a native distribution from southern Quebec to Florida and westward to southeast British Columbia and New Mexico. It is naturalizing north eastward of its native range. 

Habitat: The species occurs in open woodlands and at the wood's edge, fields, prairies - both damp and dry, which shows its adaptability. Heliopolis helianthoides var. scabra is the more western variant and Heliopolis helianthoides var. helianthoides is the more eastern variant.

More: This cultivar is robust and charismatic. With its vibrant blooms and dark foliage it makes a stunning cut flower and is a show stopper in a sunny border. The more you cut for the vase, the bushier and longer-blooming the plant will be. It can probably withstand a bit of light shade. I have noticed it can get aphid action when stressed. I think this is because it prefers a more consistent moisture pattern than the species. So although it is adaptable, and will not die during a drought, it might be worth throwing a bucket of water at the roots if you have gone weeks without significant rain. When I dream about foliage combinations, one that comes to mind is this with Andropogon gerardii 'Black Hawks', the foliage of which gets progressively darker as the weather cools, the pale blue-green cast of Schizachyrium scoparium, and the silvery blue clumps of Festuca glauca. Maybe a pop of late fall color of the buttery yellow leaves of an Amsonia? What a beautiful, tough, long-lasting vignette.

Source: Landscape plugs from North Creek Nursery

Image credits: image courtesy of Jelitto Staudensamen GmbH