Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Bleeding Hearts False Sunflower: Orange-Red Daisies Behind Lavender
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Bleeding Hearts false sunflower is a false sunflower with no yellow in its flowers at all. New blooms open an intense orange-red and mature to golden orange around reddish-brown centers, so the plant carries a range of warm tones at once. Deep green leaves with bronze highlights and nearly black stems make the color even richer.
Not to be confused with the shade-loving bleeding heart. This one wants all the sun you have.
Bleeding Hearts at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Bleeding Hearts' |
| Flowers | 2½ to 3 inches, orange-red aging to golden orange, red centers |
| Foliage | Deep green with bronze highlights; nearly black stems |
| Size | 36 to 40 inches tall and wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks early August, continues with deadheading |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Cut flower | Excellent |
| Wildlife | Great for butterflies and bees; moderately deer resistant |
Why it belongs behind lavender
At 3 feet or more, Bleeding Hearts is taller and bushier than most newer false sunflowers. That makes it a natural backdrop. Plant it behind a lavender row and the orange-red daisies glow over the purple spikes, a warm-and-cool contrast that makes both colors stronger. The dark stems and bronze-tinted leaves keep it from looking brassy.
It blooms from early July and peaks in early August, carrying the planting through the period after lavender harvest. Both plants like the same sunny, well-drained ground, and established false sunflowers tolerate dry spells, so the watering routine stays simple. Leave enough room between rows that the lavender still gets full sun and airflow.
Care tips
- Site: full sun is best; light part shade is tolerated.
- Soil: average and well drained.
- Deadheading: snip spent flowers to keep new ones coming.
- Heat: as a native prairie plant, it keeps flowering through hot midsummer weather.
- Winter: very hardy in Michigan. Cut back in late fall, or leave seed heads for birds and cut back in spring.
A cutting garden workhorse
Its flowers are rated excellent for cutting. Harvest when the petals are open but the centers are still firm. Orange-red false sunflowers with dried lavender bundles make a striking late-summer arrangement.
Plug tray or bare root
Choose the 72-cell plug tray for cutting rows, native plantings and growers, or the bare root plant for adding a clump or two to a border. See each product page for current availability and the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Is it related to bleeding heart?
No. Only the name is shared. This is a sun-loving native prairie perennial.
Will it flop?
Lean soil and full sun keep it sturdy. Rich soil or shade can make tall false sunflowers lean.
How long does it bloom?
From early July into August, longer with regular deadheading.
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