Perennial Heliopsis and Russian Sage in a Garden

Heliopsis and Russian sage make a good perennial plant combination for the flower garden. Both are deer resistant plants that are favored by pollinating wildlife looking for nectar. Each complements the other, bringing strong plant structure and light feathery flowers together.

However, it is worth a gardener’s time to learn what each plant needs to grow into a healthy plant combination. The non-native Russian sage and the Heliopsis prairie flower have characteristics and cultural requirements needed to thrive in any type of garden.

Daisy-Like Prairie Flower for Gardens

Heliopsis is a yellow daisy-like prairie flower called false sunflower and is native to the United States. It is appropriate for planting in wildflower and native gardens with other prairie plants, such as ornamental grasses. Small birds are attracted to the dried seed heads, another reason for adding it to a flower garden.

The plant is very hardy, as far north as zone 3 and as far south as zone 9. Heliopsis tolerates short spans of drought after it has been established in a garden, but prefers moist well-amended soil. False sunflower blooms June through September in full sun.

All Heliopsis have large solitary ray shaped flowers with a center disk that is usually brown. The green foliage is rough to the touch and the leaves are oblong with serrated edges. Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Loraine Sunshine’ has variegated leaves. Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra ‘Sommersonne’ grows 3′ tall and has semi-double and single flowers.

Heliopsis is considered a low maintenance perennial but the plant does need digging and dividing every 2 – 3 years. By contrast, Russian sage rarely requires division.

Water Wise Plant for Sustainable Gardens

Russian sage is an appropriate water-wise plant for sustainable gardens, although not native in the United States. The finely dissected gray-green leaves, silvery stems, spiked flowers and upright arching habit create a feathery cool appearance in a garden. Coarse or strong textured plants like Heliopsis or Eupatorium purpureum contrast well with Russian sage and can grow in similar cultural environments.

Perovskia atriplicifolia is the botanical name for Russian sage. Like salvia and sage, Perovskia is from the Lamiaceae plant family, with leaves having a fragrance similar to the culinary herb and flowers filled with nectar.

Russian sage is a hardy plant in zones 5 – 9. But winter survival in bordering regions depends on the plant growing in soil with excellent drainage. As with Heliopsis, the plant thrives in full sun and overlaps bloom times with the false sunflower. Northern gardeners will find good success with Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Little Spire’ because it thrives in zone 4, too.

Russian sage develops woody plant stems over time. Gardeners cut back the plant to several inches above the ground in spring to encourage a healthier plant and deadhead the flowers to encourage reblooming. Too much cutting back after flowering however, does not allow for the winter interest Russian sage can add to a garden later.

Deer resistant plants that also attract bees, butterflies or hummingbirds bring added value to a flower garden. Gardeners interested in this perennial plant combination may want to read about growing Geranium, Crocosmia and Miscanthus with Heliopsis.