Depending on the variety, the sun eye (Heliopsis) is a hardy and flowering perennial that does not make high demands on the garden soil.
If you are looking for an easy-care, permanent bloomer, you will find an attractive and easy-to-care-for summer flower in the sun eye (Heliopsis). With its warm yellow tones, the sun's eye adorns the garden bed well into autumn. The undemanding daisy family is a popular beginner plant. The eye-catching flower heads are not only an eye-catcher for plant lovers, but also attract a lot of insects to the garden. Depending on the variety, the sun eye is suitable for beds, borders or perennial gardens.
Sun Eye Origin
The sun eye originally came from North America. The natural range extends to Mexico. The genus Heliopsis includes about twelve species. The plants came to Germany in the mid-18th century. There the sun eye quickly gained importance as an undemanding and flowering garden plant. The brightly colored petals gave the sun eye its colloquial name. The plant is one of the robust permanent bloomers in the home garden. The sun eye is offered with filled or unfilled flowers.
Sun Eye Use
Due to its narrow and upright growth, the sun eye can also find its place in smaller gardens. In combination with asters, phlox or various medium-tall grasses, the result is an appealing picture.
The sun eye looks particularly good in semi-natural perennial and cottage gardens. The flowers attract many insects and butterflies into the bed well into autumn. The sunflower is also a popular cut flower.
Plant Suneye (Heliopsis)
➔ Find the right location
The perennial flowering plant likes full sun. A stand in the semi-shade is tolerated. If the location is too dark, the plants will not bloom and form long, thin shoots.
In its natural environment, suneyes grow on dry sandy slopes or in damp meadows.
➔ Choosing the ideal substrate
The eye of the sun is undemanding and grows on everyoneconventional garden soil. Pay attention to the permeability of the soil, because sun-eyes do not tolerate waterlogging. The soil should also not be too lean. The flower suffers as a result.
The floor should have the following properties:
- permeable
- fresh
- loose
- moderate nutrient content
- slightly acidic to alkaline
If the perennial has grown well, it hardly reacts sensitively to the soil. Then stony or sandy soils with a low nutrient content are also tolerated. It is important that the soil is not too dry.
➔ Planting the sun eye - step by step
The sun eye can be put into the bed between spring and autumn. Depending on the variety, between four and six plants can be planted per square meter. A planting distance of 40 to 50 cm should be maintained.
Proceed as follows when planting:
- Select Location
- Prepare the ground
- Water plant
- Dig planting hole
- Upgrade soil
- Insert plant
- Close planting hole
- Water the plant
» Tip: Mixing the soil with compost makes it easier for the plant to grow.
The plants are placed as deep in the ground as they were in the plant pot. Once planted, the suneye needs more water than plants that are sufficiently acclimated to their location.
Sun Eye Care
➔ Water the sun eye correctly
While the sun eye needs to be watered sufficiently after planting, older plants only need watering if they have been dry for a long time. The plant thrives best when the root area is kept moderately moist. It is imperative to avoid waterlogging.
» Tip: If the soil is mulched around the plant, the liquid stays in the soil longer and less watering is required.
➔ Fertilize sun eye properly
Normal garden soil usually contains enough nutrients. Additional fertilization is not absolutely necessary. Sandy soils are considered to be particularly poor in nutrients. Mineral and organic fertilizers are ideal here during the growing season.
The plant is planted annually in theProvided with compost in spring, this promotes growth and flowering. Manure or horn shavings are also suitable as natural fertilizers. The fertilizer is always dosed depending on the nutrient content of the soil.
» Tip: If you mulch the sun eye with bark or lawn clippings, you don't have to fertilize.
➔ Cut Sun Eye
No time-consuming cutting measures are necessary. If faded flowers are cut back regularly, the plant will be stimulated to bloom again. If the shoots have died in autumn, cut them back to the ground. The plant pushes the new shoots out of the rootstock next spring.
» Tip: The sun's eye can be used as a cut flower. If the side buds are removed, the plant will last longer in the vase.
Increase Suneye
Propagation is possible by division or sowing.
➔ Multiply Sun's Eye by Division
The division is suitable for older plants. When sun eyes have reached a certain size, they bloom less profusely. Division then not only gives the plant more air to form new, strong flowers, but also gives the hobby gardener a new plant quickly and easily.
Proceed as follows for division:
- Dig up plant
- Clean Roots
- Check the plant for root damage
- remove old and dead root parts
- Split root ball
- Replant root ball immediately
- Water the plant well
- Mulch soil
➔ Propagate Suneye by Sowing
The young plants are grown indoors and planted outdoors in mid-May when no more night frost is to be expected. The preculture can be started at the end of March. The plants can be grown in potting soil as well as in cactus soil.
Proceed as follows:
- Fill the planting tray with substrate
- Moisten substrate
- Place seeds
- Do not cover seeds with soil
- Plant tray with a glass or plastic cover
- set up bright but out of the sun
- choose a cooler location after germination
- remove cover after germination
- Keep substrate evenly moist
- Separate plants
- Plant out from mid-May
Eye of the Sun - popularVarieties
➔ Sun Eye 'Burning Hearts'
| Burning Hearts Suneye (Heliopsis helianthoides 'Burning Hearts') | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | bushy, clumpy |
| Growth: | 100 - 120 cm |
| Growth: | 60 - 80 cm |
| Usage: | Open land, bed, cut plant |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | fresh to moist, well-drained, nutritious |
➔ Sun Eye 'Venus'
| Suneye 'Venus' (Heliopsis scabra 'Venus') | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | bushy, erect leafed flower stalks, clumpy |
| Growth: | 120 - 140 cm |
| Growth: | 60 - 80 cm |
| Usage: | Bedding, open land, bee pasture, cut flower |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | fresh, permeable, nutritious |
➔ Suneye 'Lorraine Sunshine'
| Suneye 'Lorraine Sunshine' (Heliopsis scabra 'Lorraine Sunshine' ) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | upright, clump-forming |
| Growth: | 80 - 100 cm |
| Growth: | 40 - 60 cm |
| Usage: | Beds, open spaces, cut plants |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | normal to fresh, well drained |
Recognize diseases and pests by the eye of the sun
The robust plants are rarely attacked by pests or diseases. Watch out for snails in spring. If you don't take appropriate precautions here, you risk becoming bare.
» Tip: Some varieties are snail resistant. Check with your gardener.
If the plant is weak and does not receive enough nutrients, it becomes susceptible to aphids. Treatment with nettle manure or field horsetail broth strengthens the sun's eye and helps against aphid infestation.
Winter Sun Eye
The plants don't need any special protection in winter, they are hardy. The perennials also cope well with severe frosts. If the sprouting is damaged by late frosts, new buds appear shortly afterwards.