Oxeye Sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides

oxeye sunflowers with bright yellow open flowers with dark mustard centers
“Oxeye sunflower” by Eleanor, via Flickr. (cropped from original) CC BY-NC 2.0.
singular oxeye sunflower with yellow petal and mustard center
“Oxeye sunflower” by Eleanor via Flickr. CC BY-NC 2.0.

Ecological Benefits: attracts pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; birds feed on seeds

Bloom period: midsummer-early fall

Best Areas for Planting: low to mid-moisture, full sun, soils of clay, loam, and sand

Natural Habitat: can be found in open forests, woodlands, clearings, meadows, or roadsides

Most of the species information is from The Virginia Native Plant Society website, which offers free, extensive pdfs for each region of Virginia, highlighting about 100 native species (there are many more!) and helpful additional information for planning personal projects. If you aren’t from Virginia, you can search for similar resources in your state! To explore other resources and advice, navigate to the guidance page.

Visit the homepage to explore other sites and learn more about native plants.