Heliopsis helianthoides Bonfire Sunset

Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Bonfire Sunset’ is a false sunflower selected for its very dark foliage and its long-lasting summer flowering. This perennial forms a clump of sturdy stems bearing large single to semi-double flowers, orange-yellow widely tinged with red. It is a cheerful and easy-going border plant and provides very good cut flowers.

From a botanical point of view, 'Bonfire Sunset' belongs to Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (Asteraceae family), a species commonly called heliopsis, false sunflower or smooth oxeye. The species is native to North America, from eastern Canada to the central and eastern United States, where it is found in prairies, woodland edges, roadsides and moist or damp meadows. It is a herbaceous perennial, with deciduous above-ground growth, endowed with a shallow, fibrous and rhizomatous root system. Its upright, sturdy stems bear opposite, lanceolate to ovate leaves, coarsely toothed, rough to the touch. In 'Bonfire Sunset', this foliage is strongly tinged with purplish-brown to almost black and the inflorescences are heads 5–6 cm in diameter, composed of ochre-yellow ligules widely washed with orange-red around a central golden-brown disc. The abundant flowering spreads from June to September, or even until October depending on the climate. This plant grows quickly and reaches its mature size in two to three years, i.e. 80 to 100 cm in height with a spread of 40 to 50 cm.

In the garden, plant Bonfire Sunset false sunflower in full sun in perennial borders and prairie gardens. Its dark foliage looks superb next to ornamental grasses such as Panicum virgatum 'Rotstrahlbusch' or Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose'. It can be combined with flowerings in warm tones, for example that of Hot Summer coneflowers, or with large purple sages such as Salvia x guaranitica 'Amistad'. In a large sunny container, this heliopsis creates a focal point that remains decorative all summer and until the first frosts. In a vase, you can mix it with stems of Red & green mix Love-lies-bleeding.

The genus name Heliopsis comes from the Greek hélios (the sun) and opsis (appearance), in reference to the colour of the inflorescences, while the epithet helianthoides means "resembling a sunflower".