Heliopolis Burning Hearts’(False Sunflower)- Heliopolis helianthoides var. scabra Burning Hearts’

This stunning drought tolerant perennial (you can see where I’ve been going with my last couple of year’s sowing of seeds lol ) has such fine but strong, stiff & long (to 1.2m) purple stems, with dark lance shaped, slightly hairy leaves.

The foliage can blend into the back ground so it looks as though the vibrant bi-colour flowers are dancing & hovering above others in the border. The flowers, which make excellent cut flowers, have rich yellow outers to the petals, moving to a deeper orange at the centre, and again you can see from the images this is very effective in signposting for the many pollinators who feast from this nectar rich plant.

It is striking, easy to grow from seed, flowers in its first year, I bought my seeds from Thompson & Morgan , I’ve a number of plants for a fraction of the price of buying one perennial, Yorkshire through & through you see!

@just.me.in.my.garden