Common Name: False Sunflower

General Information

Heliopsis helianthoides is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from creeping rhizomes; it produces a clump of erect stems around 40 - 200cm tall. Although a perennial, it can be quite short-lived[, ].
The plant has been harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and also has potential for use as an insecticide. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its long period of flowering in the summer. There are some named varieties[]

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Central and eastern N. America - Saskatchewan to Quebec, south to New Mexico and Texas to Georgia

Habitat

Open woods, prairies, old pastures, edges of fields, meadows, road banks, ditches; at elevations up to 2,300 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Heliopsis helianthoides is a cold-hardy plant, capable of withstanding temperatures falling as low as -30°c[].
An easy to grow plant, preferring an open position and a well-drained soil that can be on the dry side[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The root has been used in the treatment of lung problems[]. A tea from this plant has been used as a cure for various lung ailments[].
A decoction of the dried root, or the chewed fresh root is placed on limbs as a stimulant[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A good wildlife plant - insects are attracted to its bright flowers during the summer, whilst birds are attracted to its seed in the autumn[].

Other Uses

The whole plant, but especially the roots, contains the isobutylamide 'scabrin', which has been shown to have insecticidal properties, especially towards house flies[]

Propagation

Seed -