Ox-Eye Perennial Sunflower Drought Tolerant Hummingbirds Non-GMO 100 SeedsDETAILSSunflower, Ox-Eye(Heliopsis helianthoides)Heliopsis helianthoides, commonly called oxeye sunflower or ox-eye daisy, is an upright, clump-forming, nearly glabrous, sunflower-like, short-lived perennial that is native to eastern and central North America.Type: Herbaceous perennial – Tender Perennial – Plants are hardy from USDA Zones 4-9. Ox-Eye Sunflower, also known as False Sunflower, is native to the central and northeastern U.S. and is found in moist to dry, open woodlands, prairies and fields.It is highly adaptable and easy to grow. Plants grow up to 4 feet tall and are lovely in the back of the border. The long-blooming, yellow flowers are excellent for cutting. Plants attract predatory or parasitoid insects that prey upon pest insects. Also recommended for prairie, pollinator and wildlife plantings. Blooms from summer to early fall and does best when provided with regular moisture.SCIENTIFIC NAME : Heliopsis helianthoidesCOLOR(S) : YellowSEED TYPE : PerennialSUN: Full Sun, Partial ShadeMOISTURE: Dry, Moderate, MoistHEIGHT (IN.) : 24-48BLOOM PERIOD: Fall, SummerUSDA HARDINESS ZONE(S) : 4-9Growing ConditionsWater Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun , Part ShadeSoil Moisture: DrySoil Description: Sandy soils.Conditions Comments: An undemanding plant which provides excellent, mid-summer color. Eastern plants belong to var. helianthoides; those in the West are var. scabra.BenefitsAttracts: HummingbirdsValue to Beneficial InsectsSupports Conservation Biological ControlThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.PropagationDescription: Easily propagated by seed in fall or early spring. Large clumps of ox-eye can be divided, but it is difficult. Ox Eye Sunflower Plant: How To Grow A False SunflowerLearning how to grow a false sunflower, Heliopsis helianthoides, provides an easy option for a long-lasting summer flower in the garden and natural area. Growing ox eye sunflowers is easy, you may already have them naturalizing in nearby wooded areas. Bright yellow blossoms appear in late spring and last until autumn frost takes them away.What are False Sunflowers?By now you may be wondering, “What are false sunflowers?” Also known as smooth ox eye sunflower plant or sun glory flower, false sunflowers are closely related to sunflowers and are a member of the large Asteraceae family. Yellow-orange, daisy-like blooms appear in June as the plant grows to reach 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.). Blossoms are 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) in diameter, with yellow to brownish centers.The ox eye sunflower plant attracts butterflies [1], bees [2], and other necessary pollinators. Seeds of growing ox eye sunflowers provide food for birds, making it an exceptional choice for a butterfly or wildlife area. Let the birds help out and you don’t have to worry about the spreading of growing ox eye sunflowers. Left to its own devices, growing ox eye sunflowers will colonize and return reliably in future years. Its abundance and ease of bloom lead some to believe it is a weed.How to Grow a False SunflowerThe ox eye sunflower plant is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones [3] 3 to 9, allowing most gardeners to take advantage of the long-lasting blooms. The ox eye sunflower plant is drought resistant and grows in full sun to light shade in poor to average soil.When growing ox eye sunflowers in a garden location, pinch back spent flowers to prevent re-seeding and promote more blooms. Pinching is not necessary when the ox eye sunflower plant grows in a natural area where more plants are desirable.False Sunflower CareFalse sunflower care is minimal, making them a must-have flower for the busy gardener. Plant them and forget about maintenance, except for deadheading [4] to encourage more blooms or to stop re-seeding. If you wish to collect seeds before the birds get all of them, secure a brown paper bag over a few flower heads, turn upside down and wait for seeds to fall into the bag.Staking may be a part of false sunflower care if you choose to grow them in a fully shaded area, as they tend to reach for sunlight.Regular watering during dry times results in more of the perky blossoms.Now that you’ve learned how to grow a false sunflower and exactly what false sunflowers are, include them in your garden bed or natural areas.How to Sow Ox-Eye Sunflower Indoors: Cold, moist stratification. Start at least 5 weeks before outdoor night temperatures are reliably in the 10 C (50 F) range. Mix the seed with a slightly moistened, sterile, soil-less growing mix. Put this in a labelled, sealed plastic bag and store in a refrigerator for one day. The next day place this in the freezer for one day. Repeat this for one week, alternating between the fridge and the freezer. After stratifying, plant seed 0.64 cm (1/4 inch) deep in pots. Keep moist but not soggy and very warm (21 C – 70 F). When seedlings are 5 cm (2 inches) tall or more, transplant into the garden spaced 30 cm (1 foot) apart. Outdoors: Plant seed 0.64 cm (1/4 inch) deep in a prepared seed bed in late fall so that the seed overwinters and germinates naturally in spring. Outdoors Alternative: In late fall through to mid-winter fill plastic pots with a slightly moistened, sterile, soil-less growing mix. Plant seed 0.64 cm (1/4 inch) deep in pots and label the pots. Place them outdoors in an area where they will experience the snow and cold of winter. The seed will germinate in the pots in spring as the weather warms up. Be sure to water the pots regularly in spring and once the plants are 5 cm (2 inches) tall, transplant them into your garden. We recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed How to Grow Ox-Eye SunflowerFalse Sunflower (Heliopsis Helianthoides) is easy to grow from seed. It does require approximately 30 days of cold moist stratification. You can accomplish this by either Winter Sowing the seed, or by simulating Winter by cold stratifying it in the refrigerator. Seeds need to be planted 3-6mm deep (1/*”-1/4″).Process to germinate False Sunflower seedsThe following steps assume you have either cold stratified seed in the refrigerator, or are going to Winter Sow the seed.Fill a suitable container with moist potting soil. Six-pack seed starter packs work well, or even converted milk jugs.Plant 3-5 False Sunflower seeds 3-6mm deepPlace the pot in a location that receives morning sun and afternoon shade.Keep the pot moist by watering in the morning onlyGermination should occur within 2-3 weeks of daytime temperatures warming up to 70F.Transplanting: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves Spacing: Space plants 2-3 feet apart in full sun in almost any soil short of water-logged Soil: Very tolerant of drought and heatWE SHIP FAST & FREE! Your orders ship the next business date after payment via US mail. NO TRACKING. You can add TRACKING for $3.50 additional (see shipping charges). ORDER $10+ in the same day and we will ship in a Padded Envelope with a 50+ Seed Wildflower Gift Pack (500mg)ORDER $25+ in the same day and we will ship in a First Class Package with TRACKING and two 50+ Seed Wildflower Gift Packs (500mg each)CUSTOMER SERVICEWe will leave feedback for you within 48 hours of payment!Leaving Feedback for your seller. eBay guidelines: When you receive your seeds please leave a positive for us. If you have any problem at all no need to leave neutral or negative – message me and we will fix it! What should I consider before rating a seller’s performance? In general, here’s what you should be thinking about when leaving Feedback for a seller: Did you get what you were expecting, based on the item description? Was the item packaged appropriately (to prevent damage during shipping)? Did the seller ship the item within the timeframe indicated in the listing? (Remember that USPS is experiencing delays due to Covid.) Were the shipping and handling costs reasonable? They are FREE! If you communicated with the seller, were your questions or concerns addressed? Did the seller respond within a reasonable amount of time? Before you consider leaving a negative give the seller a chance to fix the problem. Negative Feedback directly impacts their business. If you don’t get your item within 10 working days message me directly. You do not need to do an Ebay claim – just message. Give me 48 hours to answer please and I will refund or reship. Please read the planting instructions! Some seeds require cold stratification. Some Perennials probably will not bloom until the 2nd year. Your success and happiness is our success and happiness!30 Day Return Policy If you need to return your item, we have a 30 day return policy. Please return it in the same condition it was received.