Heliopsis helianthoides

Flower name
Heliopsis helianthoides
Scientific name
Heliopsis helianthoides
Aliasヘリオプシス, False sunflower, Heliopsis, ヒマワリモドキ, キクイモモドキ
Place of originNorth America
Place of floweringFields and footpaths, Garden, Botanical Gardens, Park
Flowering seasonJuly, August, September
Language of flowerslonging

What is Heliopsis helianthoides

Heliopsis helianthoides

Heliopsis helianthoides (scientific name: Heliopsis helianthoides) is a perennial herb of the family Asteraceae, genus Heliopsis, native to North America.
There are 14 to 18 species in the genus Heliopsis, among which Heliopsis helianthoides (commonly known as False Sunflower) and its variety Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (commonly known as Rough False Sunflower) are especially popular.
It was introduced to Japan during the Meiji era as an ornamental plant and later escaped into the wild.

The basic species, Heliopsis helianthoides (False Sunflower), has hairless stems and leaves, with ovate leaves, and grows to a height of 1–1.8 m.
The variety Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (Rough False Sunflower) has coarse hairs on stems and leaves, the leaves are narrowly ovate to lanceolate, less than 5 cm wide, and the plant grows to a height of 60–100 cm.

In Japan, the Rough False Sunflower is more commonly found.

Origin of the Flower Name
The genus name Heliopsis comes from the Greek words hélios (sun) + -opsis (resembling).
The specific epithet helianthoides means “resembling the sunflower (Helianthus annuus).”

Differences between Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) and Rough False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra)

Although they are similar, the differences are as follows:
Jerusalem Artichoke leaves are alternate, while Rough False Sunflower leaves are opposite.
Jerusalem Artichoke has large tubers, while Rough False Sunflower does not have underground rhizomes.

Common name: Heliopsis helianthoides
Scientific name:
Basic species: Heliopsis helianthoides (False Sunflower)
Variety: Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (Rough False Sunflower)
Synonyms: Heliopsis helianthoides (False Sunflower), Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (Rough False Sunflower), Heliopsis, False Sunflower, Rough False Sunflower
Taxonomy: Family Asteraceae, Genus Heliopsis
Life form: Perennial with rhizomes
Origin: North America
Habitat: Roadsides, grasslands, wastelands, along roads
Height: 0.4–1.5 m
Growth habit: Erect, slightly branched, forming clumps
Petiole: Short
Leaf surface: Smooth or rough
Leaf shape: Ovate, elliptic to triangular, lanceolate
Leaf margin: Coarsely serrated
Phyllotaxis: Opposite
Flowering period: July to September
Inflorescence type: Compound corymb composed of multiple corymbs
Peduncle: Long
Flower position: Terminal, axillary
Inflorescence form: Capitulum (disk florets and ray florets)
Flower diameter: 7 cm
Flower color: Yellow
Number of ray florets: 15
Disk florets: Hemispherical and raised
Flower type: Single or double
Fruit type: Achene
Fruit length: 0.5 cm