Helianthus salicifolius

A sunflower like no other, Helianthus salicifolius is often grown just for its unusual foliage — but the vivid yellow daisies are a real treat too. A herbaceous perennial, it develops clumps of very tall, elegant stems clothed from top to bottom in fresh green, narrow thread-like leaves that arch away from the stem, creating a fine but transparent silhouette that is very striking. From late summer into autumn, each stem is topped by a spray of yellow daisy flowers, the petals gently ruffled as they open, each bloom set off by a cinnamon centre.

A stunning statement plant for any sunny border with reasonable, fairly fertile, neutral to alkaline soil, there is a tropical air to its form that contrasts well with larger-leaved plants. Use it as an ingredient in a prairie planting scheme with tall ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus and Calamagrostis, its flowers dancing alongside the fine heads of the grasses.

Height × Spread: 150cm × 100cm