'Tuscan Sun' Perennial Sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides

I grew 3 of these plants for 3 summers from 1 gallon pots I bought at Home Depot in the fall of 2021. The plants were brimming with health when purchased .but they grew much taller than advertised on the tags and on the Proven Winners website. Even with pinching and no fertilizer they grew over 4 feet tall this past summer and 5 feet in the previous 2 summers. Staking was a must when in full bloom as the weight of the many flowers caused the plants to begin to flop. 'Tuscan Sun' did bloom its head off from early/mid July into September in a zone 7 garden and the flowers were a radiant yellow that lit up the border.. However, for me the fun in the sun ended this past summer as the plants developed such a horrendous case of rust from bottom to top that I dug them out and got rid of them. The rust was so bad that the leaves turned crispy brown leaving leafless stems when I started removing them, Last summer, only the very bottom leaves were affected and spraying kept the rust at bey but who wants a cultivar you have to spray to keep it from ruining the look of a garden? Admittedly, the air circulation at that part of the border was a bit less than ideal and got worse because the clump of plants grew so large. if purchased, planting them in an open area such as an island bed with full circulation on all sides might bring better results. My experience was unfortunate because this cultivar is so lovely. .

Ordered 5 in 2022. Spring 2023 arrives and only 1 has come back. I’m in zone 7b and this plant is rated are hardy way past my zone. If you are looking to pay money for 5 blank spots in your garden this plant is for you! P.S. proven winners.com only has a 24 hour guarantee. Proven Winners Direct has a year guarantee. Makes total sense.

This is a very tough and reliable plant that is very long blooming for a perennial. Stout and does not need staking even in our windy location. I have divided mine twice since first planting six years ago. Very happy.

If you are looking for a compact plant that will withstand 10 hours or more of sun a day, this is the plant for you! It is covered in yellow flowers and continues to bloom day after day. It is both drought and heat tolerant. the information says height is 18-24" but mine are fast approaching 3 feet. I wonder if this might be due to the excessive sun it receives. I rated this a "5" because I have found nothing negative about it. If you purchase it, you will not be disappointed!