False Sunflower, Rough Heliopsis, Orange Sunflower, Ox-Eye

I refer to this H. helianthoides scabra as the Rough Oxeye or Rough False-Sunflower because its leaves have a roughness to them from litt...Read Morele hairs, thus being "scabrous." The leaves are a little more narrow than the straight species of H. helianthoides helianthoides, that I refer to as the Smooth Oxeye or Smooth False-Sunflower, that has smooth or barely rough leaves. The several cultivars are derived from this Rough variety. Both varieties are pretty, reliable, and easy to grow. If one grows this Rough Oxeye in a classic perennial border, it should be dug up, divided, and reset every three to four years to keep it in neat form. If either variety is used in a naturalistic patch, one does not have to do this.

In response to the gardener who had trouble with aphids and powdery mildew on heliopsis, Try thinning out the plants for better air circu...Read Morelation and avoid spraying the leaves when watering to reduce powdery mildew. Getting rid of aphids with a vigorous hosing-down with water and then hosing down the soil beneath the plant where they drop, should help because aphids can't find their way back up the plant... they were born there in the first place. The hosing-down should be done in early morning on a sunny day to let the plant leaves and stems dry out, otherwise powdery mildew will result. I hope that helps.

This plant volunteered its self in a rather shady area underneath a tall pine tree about 4 years ago. It usually got a few blooms on it t...Read Morehere around August, so I left it in that spot for a couple of years before moving it to a sunnier spot last year and it really took off. It grew 3-4' tall and was covered in flowers from July until October even in less than ideal conditions. Somewhat slow to rise in the spring but it grows and an unbelievable rate once it breaks through the soil.

Our Heliopsis has been growing in the minimal soil in front of out fence for more than 10 years. It creates a FANTASTIC display and passi...Read Moreng motorists have stopped and asked the name of the plant. It comes back year after year on its own and in ever-more dense clusters. It, with the Tiger Lily, is the quintessential perennial.
However, every August it becomes covered with red aphids. They line every stem. The leaves then become covered with a powdery white mildew or fungus. It is extremely ugly and we have to rip them out by the end of August even though the plant is still trying to grow and flower.
We have tried Neem at great expense but with absolutely no efficacy. I have had a little more luck against the aphids
with a home-made soap/red pepper/garlic/oil solution.
Next year we may try pre-treating with Neem in late July but if anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it.
Washing them off with a hose as mentioned by one of the
gardeners above did not prove the least bit effective either.
THANKS - heliopsis lover Judy