SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Surface sow and press in.
Starting Indoors:
Sow indoors in late winter and keep at 65-70°F. Cover with a sprinkling of vermiculite to retain humidity around the seed during germination.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow at last frost.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Also known as False Sunflower or Ox Eye Sunflower, Heliopsis will attract birds, bees, and butterflies, and is also deer resistant. Add to mid or back border and meadow plantings for a long season of colorful blooms, deadheading if desired for more flowers. Perennials bulk up roots and foliage in their first year of growth, blooming more abundantly starting the second year. Staking may be necessary in richer soils. Pinching the plant before midsummer will encourage a shorter, bushier habit, with blooms delayed a few weeks. Divide every 3-4 years if clumps start to hollow out in the center.
Watering Details:
Water regularly while establishing, then only during dry spells.
Fertilizer:
Mix in an inch or two of compost prior to planting. Overly rich soils will encourage sprawling growth.
Diseases & Pests:
Aphids may appear—prevent by regularly spraying plants down with a hose. If these pests do show up, hose down daily until they are no longer an issue. Prevent foliar disease by spacing properly to allow for good air circulation.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Harvest when flowers 3/4 to fully open.
