The false sunflower, also commonly known as oxeye sunflower, is an easy-growing herbaceous perennial plant with double or single daisy-like, yellow-orange flowers surrounding a cone-shaped, golden-brown center disk. False sunflowers naturalize in grasslands and at the edge of woodlands but they thrive in a variety of settings, climates, soils, and light conditions, although full sun is best.
False Sunflower Care
Here are the basic tips on growing false sunflowers successfully.
Give this plant as much full sun as possible.
Grow in average, well-draining soil for best results.
Keep the soil moderately moist.
Don’t fertilize often (or at all) to avoid leggy plants.
Types of False Sunflowers
You will be hard-pressed to find a bad false sunflower. Most varieties are easy to grow and bloom reliably. They include:
‘Asahi’: a midsized plant with fluffy double flowers
‘Loraine Sunshine’: an early bloomer with variegated leaves
‘Prairie Sunset’: tall plant growing dark purple stems
‘Summer Nights’: dark red stems, red-tinged foliage, and gold flowers with mahogany centers
‘Summer Sun’: a tall plant with lots of semi-double golden flowers
To start seeds, take these steps:
Plant in moist but well-drained soil.
Plants should be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart.
Cover seeds with about 1/8 inch of dirt.
Water and plan to thin the seedlings as needed.