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

I would prefer to label this straight species as the Smooth Oxeye or the Smooth False-Sunflower, as its leaves are not rough or barely so...Read More. (There is the variety of H.helianthoides scabra that is barely different, but has slightly narrower leaves that have a roughness on them from tiny hairs, thus "scabrous." I refer to the variety as the Rough Oxeye or Rough False-Sunflower, and it has the various cultivars derived form it) Both are pretty, reliable, and easy perennials. If grown in a typical perennial border of English garden style, they should be dug up and divided every three or four years and reset to keep them in good, neat form. If growing them in a naturalistic patch, one does not have to do that. I think the Smooth variety is used more for naturalistic plantings while the Rough variety and its cultivars are more used in conventional gardens. Furthermore, the Smooth variety has the larger range in eastern North America.

I would like to give this plant a positive rating for its continual flowering and cheerful yellow flowers. The leaves are coarse. I only ...Read Morehad two small groupings of plants and every summer they had red aphids which I controlled easily with insecticide, but this summer the plant spread to my prairie garden located on the large strip between the sidewalk and the street. Several more plants grew and now the stems of each one is red with aphids. If I can figure out how to do it, I will upload a photo. I think the aphids on my backyard plants are coming from the prairie plants and my usual methods of control aren't working. Plus, I feel overwhelmed by the number of aphids and aphid-covered plants in the prairie garden and don't know whether to leave them to fend for themselves, rip them out, or try to treat them. Any advice?
7/18/13 Update: I cut down all of the false sunflower plants due to the ish factor. The aphids were just grossing me out. I cut them down rather than pull them out in the hopes that when they grow back the aphids will be gone.

These grow readily in my climate in sun and part shade. They bloom profusely all summer and autumn, and are practically maintenance-free....Read More They self-seed readily and can crowd out other plants, so I would call them slightly invasive. Any unwanted plants should be removed while young before the roots become established.

This plant volunteered its self in a rather shady area underneath a tall pine tree about 6 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 and it really took off. It now grows 4 to 5 feet plus tall by 3 to 4 feet wide, and blooms from late May or Early June until October even in less than ideal conditions. I've noticed that on hot, sunny days it wilts very easily so I would think it prefers a home with protection from the blazing afternoon sun, and in spite looking like a sunflower, it actually loves a lot of water, so perhaps an area along a stream or pond would be ideal.

Either way, it is a carefree, self-seeding perennial that will grow most anywhere and should be an addition to any garden.