Native Plant Spotlight: Burning Hearts False Sunflower

When we think of native New England plants, we often envision shrubs and groundcover over brightly colored flowering plants. But there are many native plants that are bright and colorful, and exactly what a New Hampshire gardener who favors flowering plants is looking for. One such plant is Burning Hearts False Sunflower, a bright gold plant with a red center. You may know this fiery plant by another name, such as Oxeye Daisy or Perennial Sunflower. Whatever name you give them, Burning Hearts False Sunflowers are instantly recognizable, bringing bright clusters of colors to your garden or yard.

A One-Plant Color Spectrum

The visual appeal of Burning Hearts False Sunflower is not just its bright flowers, although that is the defining feature. The flowers contrast with the dark, purple-green foliage, and that contrast really makes the flowers pop. This plant spreads and tends to grow in clusters, making it an excellent choice for gardeners who want to fill in the spaces between other plants or prefer mass planting. Unlike some other herbaceous perennials, Burning Hearts False Sunflowers never run the risk of becoming visually boring when they take over a large space or are not surrounded by other plants.

Benefits to Other Wildlife

There are many reasons to favor native plants in your garden, and chief among them is the benefits to other native wildlife. Burning Hearts False Sunflowers attract pollinators, especially butterflies, and in the winter, songbirds eat the fallen seeds. Deer tend to leave these plants alone, so they are a great choice if you have problem with deer chomping on your garden.

Planting and Growing Tips

In ideal conditions, Burning Hearts False Sunflowers can last for ten years, making them an appealing addition to your garden of native perennials. Each plant can spread to about 24 inches, and reach three feet in height, four with flowers. If you are mass planting or using them as a bedding plant, it’s best to space each plant about 20 inches apart. The individual plants will grow into a larger cluster if given enough space to spread out at the start. These plants typically have a one-foot clearance from the ground and do well when underplanted with lower-growing perennials.

Although Burning Hearts False Sunflowers are relatively low maintenance, the flower stalks can be weak. When planting in exposed sites or excessively rich soil, supporting the stalks with stakes is sometimes necesscary. Once established, however, the plant grows quickly.

Burning Hearts False Sunflowers do best in full sun to partial shade. The plant can adapt to dry or moist conditions and is not particular regarding soil type or pH. These plants can handle environmental salt, and so can do well in urban areas. Essentially, Burning Hearts False Sunflowers thrive in almost every environment as long you have at least partial sun.

Native Garden Plants from Studley’s Flower Gardens

At Studley’s Flower Gardens in Rochester, New Hampshire, we cultivate and stock a wide variety of native New England plants. Whether you’ve been gardening for decades or just starting this year, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you find the perfect plants for your garden conditions, tastes, and skill level. Visit us today or use our Plant Finder tool to search for available garden plants.