Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Sundial False Sunflower: A Tall Red-Eyed Screen Behind Lavender
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Sundial false sunflower is a tall, upright heliopsis with golden yellow daisies about 3 inches across. A reddish zone at the base of each petal forms a distinct red eye around a brown center, and the glossy, dark olive-green leaves have burgundy-tinted margins that make the gold even brighter.
At 4 to 4 1/2 feet, it is tall enough to stand behind a lavender row like a sunny fence.
Sundial at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Heliopsis 'Sundial' |
| Flowers | Golden yellow with a red eye, about 3 inches |
| Foliage | Glossy dark olive-green, burgundy-tinted edges |
| Size | 48 to 54 inches tall, about 42 inches wide |
| Bloom | Early July into mid-August, six to eight weeks |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to light part shade |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators and butterflies; moderately deer resistant |
Built for the back row
Sundial shares lavender's love of hot sun and good drainage, and its deep root system helps it ride out hot, dry weather once established. That makes it one of the easier tall companions to grow right behind a lavender planting.
The layout is simple: lavender in front, Sundial behind, with three to four feet between rows so the taller plant does not shade or crowd the lavender. In early July the two bloom together, gold above purple. When the lavender is cut for drying, Sundial keeps going into mid-August, so the bed never looks finished too early. Its strong stems resist flopping, which matters for a plant this tall in a windy, open garden. Map out spacing in the Companion Plant Planner.
Care through the year
- Soil: average and well drained. Skip rich soil and extra fertilizer, which can make tall plants lean.
- Water: regular watering the first season; established plants tolerate dry spells.
- Deadheading: remove spent flowers to extend bloom.
- Disease: noted for powdery mildew resistance. Occasional rust or leaf spots.
- Winter: very hardy in Michigan with no special care. Cut back in late fall, or leave the seed heads for birds and cut back in spring.
A cutting-garden workhorse
Sundial rates excellent as a cut flower. Its long, branched stems give you plenty to cut without leaving a gap, and red-eyed gold daisies with sprigs of lavender make a cheerful farmhouse bouquet. Cutting regularly also acts as deadheading. See the Cut Flower Planner for more pairings.
Plug trays or bare root
Sundial is offered as a 72-cell plug tray and as a bare root plant. See each product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray and bare root orders.
Frequently asked questions
Is false sunflower a native plant?
Yes, false sunflower is a North American native, and Sundial suits native and pollinator gardens.
Will it seed around?
Leaving seed heads feeds birds in winter. Deadheading during the season keeps it tidier.
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