Pollinator plant

false sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides

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Common names

29 names · 17 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Early Sunflower[1]
  • Eastern Ox-eye[1]
  • Eastern Sunflower-everlasting[1]
+8 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (16)
Dutch
French
  • héliopsis faux-hélianthe[2][3]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • janeba drsná[3]
Estonian
  • harilik päikesesilm[3]
Finnish
  • päivänsilmä[3]
German
Hungarian
  • Napszemvirág[3]
Japanese
  • キクイモモドキ[3]
Lithuanian
  • Geltonžiedis saulakis[3]
Polish
  • Słoneczniczek szorstki[3]
Russian
  • Гелиопсис подсолнечниковидный[3]
  • Гелиопсис подсолнечниковый[3]
Slovak
  • slnečnička drsná[3]
Swedish
Ukrainian
  • Геліопсис соняшникоподібний[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Heliopsis helianthoides — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • False Sunflower — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Early Sunflower — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Eastern Ox-eye — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Eastern Sunflower-everlasting — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Heliopsis — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Ox-eye — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Oxeye Sunflower — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(7); heading: Common Name(s):; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Smooth Oxeye — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(8); heading: Common Name(s):; Heliopsis helianthoides.
[2] Heliopsis helianthoides — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • false sunflower — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Sonnenauge — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • ox-eye sunflower — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Oxeye sunflower — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • smooth oxeye — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • sweet oxeye — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • héliopsis faux-hélianthe — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Zonnenoog — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
[3] Heliopsis helianthoides — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • false sunflower — results[7].names[2]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Sonnenauge — results[7].names[9]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • ox-eye sunflower — results[7].names[4]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Oxeye sunflower — results[7].names[19]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • smooth oxeye — results[7].names[3]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • sweet oxeye — results[7].names[18]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • héliopsis faux-hélianthe — results[7].names[14]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Zonnenoog — results[7].names[20]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • janeba drsná — results[7].names[5]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • キクイモモドキ — results[7].names[6]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Гелиопсис подсолнечниковидный — results[7].names[7]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • päivänsilmä — results[7].names[8]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • harilik päikesesilm — results[7].names[10]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Geltonžiedis saulakis — results[7].names[11]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • 赛菊芋 — results[7].names[12]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • dagöga — results[7].names[13]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Геліопсис соняшникоподібний — results[7].names[15]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Słoneczniczek szorstki — results[7].names[16]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Napszemvirág — results[7].names[17]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • 賽菊芋 — results[7].names[21]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • slnečnička drsná — results[7].names[22]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
  • Гелиопсис подсолнечниковый — results[7].names[23]; taxon id 130382; Heliopsis helianthoides.
[4] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • smooth ox-eye — Page 4, column 1, row top 172 pt; common-name cell after Heliopsis helianthoides.; Heliopsis helianthoides.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Asteraceae

The complete-name usages checked in Catalogue of Life agree on this family; authorship and accepted-name identity remain unresolved.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Heliopsis helianthoides.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.91–1.83 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.61–1.22 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping; Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Heliopsis helianthoides in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Native range
SE. Canada to NC. & E. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Heliopsis helianthoides — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 4129681; ID B3GQQ; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Heliopsis helianthoides — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyMature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 1, entry Heliopsis helianthoides (top 172 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Heliopsis helianthoides — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 538051; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1694920, 1694921, 1694922, 1694923, 1694924, 1694925, 1694926, 1694927, 1694928, 1694929, 1694930, 1694931, 1694932, 1694933, 1694934, 1694935, 1694936, 1694937, 1694938, 1694939, 1694940, 1694941, 1694942, 1694943, 1694944, 1694945, 1694946, 1694947, 1694948, 1694949, 1694950, 1694951, 1694952, 1694953, 1694954, 1694955, 1694956, 1694957, 1694958, 1694959, 1694960, 1694961, 1694962, 1694963

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.