Helianthus multiflorus x decapetalus 'Sunshine Daydream'

Helianthus multiflorus 'Sunshine Daydream' is an excellent perennial variety of sunflower, a tall plant adorned with numerous double flowers in a bright yellow colour similar to some dahlias. This flowering is abundant and continues from summer until the first frost, much to the delight of butterflies. The vegetation is also attractive, with strong reddish-brown stems and dentate leaves in an elegant dark green colour, not very susceptible to powdery mildew. This sunflower is one of the last smiles in the garden and brings a lot of life and cheerfulness to the countryside borders and autumn foliage at the end of the season.  

Helianthus 'Sunshine Daydream' was discovered by Tim McGinty of North Creek Nursery in the USA, and is a descendant of the excellent variety 'Capenoch Star'. It is a non-invasive woody-rooted perennial plant. This hybrid variety forms a clump reaching between 1.50m (5ft) and 1.80m (6ft) in height, depending on soil fertility, with a width of 60cm. The whole plant forms a bouquet of strong reddish-brown stems, glabrous at the base, bristly and rough towards the top, and branched. The continuous flowering starts in July and ends in October. The flowers appear in heads at the top of the stems in large numbers, they are very double, well-rounded, with a honeycomb texture and measure about 5cm (2in) in diameter. The leaves, dark green and lanceolate to obovate in shape, are hairy on the underside, measuring about 10cm (4in) in length and have toothed edges. They are distributed up to the top of the stems. The above-ground vegetation is deciduous, drying up with the first frost and reemerging in spring.  

The great interest of perennial sunflowers lies in their late flowering and excellent adaptation to heavy, clayey, moist, and even limestone soils. Helianthus multiflorus 'Sunshine Daydream' is an excellent long-lasting perennial, resistant to diseases, and with a strong habit. It is perfect for the back of borders or mixed borders. It is a plant with a countryside look that blends well in slightly wild areas of the garden, alongside cosmos, tall scabious, and pendulous sedge, for example. Another idea for association, with equally easy plants: Vernonia noveboracensis, Panicum 'Northwind', Aster puniceus. Its tall stature allows it to be planted in front of white Spireas, Hydrangea quercifolia, cotinus, etc., which will act as natural supports while blending their autumn colors with its sunny flowering.