False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)
The first sunflower-like plant to bloom in the summer, false sunflower produces erect (rather than side-facing) blooms that attract pollinators including bees, butterflies and beetles. Its long blooming season makes false sunflower a popular choice for wildflower gardens.
Botanist Susan Nelson, a volunteer invasive plant surveyor who has worked in private and public sectors, provides specifics about February’s Plant of the Month.