Oxeye sunflowers are not, in fact, true sunflowers. Like Helios, the Greek sun god, both the genus of false sunflowers “Heliopsis” and of true sunflowers “Helianthus” were named for their bright yellow petals being reminiscent of sunshine. It is often also called “early sunflower” because they are the first sunflower-like plant to bloom in summer - well before any true sunflowers.

Like other members of the aster family, the conical disk in the center of the bloom is actually made up of many small flowers surrounded by ray petals. Presumably this disk reminded someone of the eye of an ox, hence its common name. Interestingly, there is another aster with a similar name - the oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) which is an invasive wildflower that was also seen blooming at the landfill this week.

Pollinator Profile:

Unlike the other flowers that I have posted so far, I chose not to include a drawing of a pollinator on this flower in order to highlight the disappearance of many insect species across the globe. Quite a few pollinators use Oxeye sunflowers as a source of nectar and pollen. In fact, its relatively long lasting bloom makes it an important nectar source bridging the time between spring and fall blooms. Its seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals in the fall.

However, there is one pollinator that has an even tighter relationship with this plant. Holcopasites heliopis is a native ground nesting bee that depends entirely on Oxeye sunflower for food. It is a specialist, having evolved a specific relationship with this plant over hundreds of thousands of years of coexistence. They emerge from their nests to forage at the same time that the host plant begins to flower. If Oxeye Sunflower were to disappear from the landscape, so would the Holcopasites bee. And while it might not be immediately evident what, if any, impact this one species disappearing might have on the ecosystem, the more species we lose, the less resilient the system becomes overall.

As Aldo Leopold once wrote, “To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering.”

Check out the information below to see if this native might be a good fit for your yard!

Bloom Time: June through September

Height: 3'-5' H

Cultivation: Native Virginia short-lived perennial. Full sun, easily grown in average, dry to medium, well drained soil. Tolerates some drought, but thrives in heavy moist clay. Tolerates shallow rocky soils and infertile soils. Not noticeably rhizomatous, but will self sow. Indoor seed germination requires moist stratification.

Pollination/Insect Interaction: Hummingbirds, honeybees, bumble bees, beneficial wasps, pollinating flies, butterflies, skippers and beetles. Larval host for painted lady butterfly.

Other Wildlife: Seed is relished by songbirds, especially goldfinches. Stems provide winter cover for beneficial insects.

Human Interaction: Once used as a treatment for malaria