Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Funky Spinner'®

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Funky Spinner' is a remarkably colourful variety of false sunflower, with its very dark young foliage accentuating the vibrant and distinctly bicolour flowers. They bloom in abundance from summer to autumn, carried by stout, almost black stems that do not require staking. Plant some heliopsis, these cousins of sunflowers are excellent perennials for wildflower beds, both hardy and unpretentious, and full of cheerfulness, whose cultivation is within reach of all gardeners, even beginners!

Heliopsis belong to the Asteraceae family. H. helianthoides var. scabra, from which this superb variety 'Funky Spinner' originates, is a botanical species native to North America, where it is generally found in open woodlands and tall grass prairies.

Heliopsis 'Funky Spinner' is a rhizomatous perennial plant with a non-invasive woody rootstock. It forms a bushy clump, which expands over time, composed of numerous sturdy, branched leafy stems, measuring between 60 and 75cm (24 and 30in) in height with a spread of 50-60cm (20-24in). Its growth rate is moderate to fast. Flowering occurs from July to October if faded flowers are regularly removed and the soil remains slightly moist. The inflorescence appears at the tip of each stem, consisting of several large 7 to 8cm (3in) wide heads or capitula. The capitula bear two rows of bicoloured ray florets, orange-red with golden-yellow tips, arranged in a collar around a beautiful central disc that turns brown. Birds are fond of the seeds that follow the flowers. The foliage extends up to the top of the stems, initially coloured purple-brown, then turning green as it ages. The 10cm (4in) long leaves are lanceolate and somewhat cordate, with more or less dentate margins. The deciduous vegetation disappears in winter and regenerates each spring from the rootstock.

Trends can be quite inscrutable, as the upright habit of Heliopsis, their long flowering period, and their low demands are all keys that should open the door to every garden... but no! Yet, all experts agree that they are excellent plants. 25 years ago, Alan Bloom, a famous perennial plant breeder in England, said: "They are certainly the last plants I would part with if I decided to eliminate the yellow colour from the borders of my garden." Combine Heliopsis 'Funky Spinner' with other easy and exuberant perennials or annuals, such as mulleins, scabious, tall daisies, Buenos Aires verbena, love-in-a-mist, and cosmos, in wildflower beds and sunny borders. Beneficial to pollinators, it is a very good plant for homemade bouquets.