Smooth Oxeye
Heliopsis helianthoides
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Ввласенко
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Heliopsis
- Species:
- Heliopsis helianthoides
- USDA Symbol:
- HEHE5
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, orange
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
clearwing borer (Carmenta ithacae), Rigid Borer Moth (Papaipema rigida), Tischeria heliopsisella
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Black and (Bombus auricomus), Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), Half-black bumble (Bombus vagans), Lemon cuckoo (Bombus citrinus), Northern amber (Bombus borealis), Red-belted bumble (Bombus rufocinctus), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble (Bombus affinis), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Triepeolus lunatus, Two-banded cellophane-cuckoo bee (Epeolus bifasciatus), Two-spotted bumble (Bombus bimaculatus), Zadontomerus Ashmead Moths:clearwing borer (Carmenta ithacae), Rigid Borer Moth (Papaipema rigida) Butterflies:American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Atalopedes Scudder, Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rootstock following fire; common in fire-managed prairies.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage preferred
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in prairies and open woodlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 10–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily with cold stratification; light may improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI