Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra Venus

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Venus', initially selected for cut flowers, is a variety of false sunflower that stands out for the large size of its semi-double flowers and its long, sturdy stems that usually don't require staking. This cousin of the sunflower is adorned with a radiant summer flowering made up of daisy-like flowers in a warm, bright yellow colour with a darker yellow centre. Plant Heliopsis, they are excellent perennial plants for meadows, wild fields, both unpretentious and full of good cheer, and their cultivation is within the reach of all gardeners, even beginners!

Heliopsis belongs to the Asteraceae family. H. helianthoides var. scabra, from which this superb variety 'Venus' comes from, is native to North America, where it is generally found in open woodlands and tall grass prairies.

'Venus', selected in Germany, is a rhizomatous perennial plant with a non-spreading woody stump. It forms a bushy clump with many solid, branched leafy stems, reaching a height of up to 90cm (35in) and spreading 50-60cm (20-24in) wide. Its growth rate is medium to fast. Flowering occurs from July to September if faded flowers are regularly removed. The inflorescence appears at the end of each stem and is composed of several heads (capitules), 10cm (4in) wide. The capitules bear two rows of bright yellow ray florets arranged in a collar around a beautiful rounded ochre-yellow central disk that turns brown in autumn. The flowers, highly visited by insects, are followed by seeds that birds love.  The foliage extends up to the top of the stems, it is bright green and rough, with lanceolate and dentate leaves that are a bit triangular and strongly toothed at the edges. Their colour is greyish-green. The vegetation disappears in winter and regrows every spring from the stump.

Trends can be quite closed-minded because the upright habit of Heliopsis, its long flowering period, and its low requirements are all keys that should open the door to every garden.... but no! Yet, all specialists agree that they are excellent plants. 25 years ago, Alan Bloom, a famous perennial plant breeder in England, said: "These are certainly the last plants I would part with if I decided to eliminate the yellow colour from the borders in my garden." Combine Heliopsis Venus in meadows and sunny borders with other easy and vigorous perennials or annuals such as mulleins, Scabiosa, tall daisies, Buenos Aires Verbena, Nigella, and Cosmos, for example. Beneficial for pollinating insects, it is a very good plant for homemade bouquets.