Product Description
Heliopsis h. 'Rays for Days' PPAF CPBRAF - Proven Winners® (25) Bare Root Plants
Heliopsis helianthoides 'Rays for Days' is an outstanding new False Sunflower cultivar, aptly named for its seemingly endless supply of bright, sunny blooms. This selection boasts an incredibly dense and well-rounded form, making it a perfect choice for brightening the middle of the garden border. Its large, fully double flowers are a vibrant golden yellow, reminiscent of cheerful Zinnias, and are produced in unprecedented abundance, making it one of the most floriferous Heliopsis selections to date. These impressive blooms are borne on tall, sturdy stems, making them an ideal choice for cut flower arrangements.
'Rays for Days' is a true garden workhorse, featuring glossy, deep green, triangular leaves on a bushy, well-branched habit. Beyond its ornamental appeal, it is highly attractive to butterflies and bees, contributing to a vibrant and healthy ecosystem, and offers excellent heat and drought tolerance, ensuring reliable performance even in challenging summer conditions.
'Rays for Days' exhibits a dense, well-rounded, and upright growth habit, typically reaching 24-26 inches in height with a spread of 18-20 inches. The foliage consists of glossy, deep green, triangular leaves, providing a lush backdrop. The most distinguishing feature is its abundance of large, fully double flowers, which are a brilliant golden yellow. These blooms have a dense, petal-packed appearance, giving them a rich, Zinnia-like quality. The flowers are presented on tall, strong stems, holding them proudly above the foliage for maximum visual impact. The plant is exceptionally floriferous, producing a continuous display from mid to late summer.
- Foliage: Glossy, deep green, triangular leaves; dense, well-rounded habit.
- Flowers: Large, fully double, golden yellow blooms with a Zinnia-like appearance.
- Bloom Time: Midsummer to Late Summer.
- Growth Rate: Medium.
- Attracts: Butterflies, Bees.
- Critter Resistant: Not explicitly stated as deer resistant, but many Heliopsis are generally not preferred by deer.
- Seasonal Interest: Extended summer bloom, can provide winter interest if seed heads are left.
- Fragrance: Not specified.
- Other Features: Excellent cut flower, suitable for combination containers, good for mass planting, easy to grow, drought tolerant, focal point.
- Floriferousness: Our most floriferous selection to date.
- Tolerance: Excellent heat and drought tolerance.
- Height: 24.0-26.0 Inches (60-66 cm)
- Spread: 18.0-20.0 Inches (45-50 cm)
- Hardiness Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
- Flower Color: Yellow/Gold Shades
- Foliage Color: Green shades
- Sunlight: Full Sun (> 6 hours Direct Sun) to Part Shade (4-6 hours Direct Sun)
- Water Requirements: Average Water Needs
- Soil Quality: Average Soil Quality (Prefers average fertility; avoid overly rich soil)
- Soil Chemistry: Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0), Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
- Bloomtime: Midsummer, Late Summer
- PPAF: Plant Patent Applied For
- CPBRAF: Canadian Plant Breeders' Rights Applied For
While 'Rays for Days' is a cultivated variety, its parent species, Heliopsis helianthoides, is native to much of North America, particularly the central and eastern United States and parts of Canada. It naturally occurs in open woodlands, prairies, savannas, and disturbed areas, which explains its strong preference for full sun and well-drained soils, as well as its inherent resilience.
Landscaping Design Tips
Heliopsis 'Rays for Days' is an exceptionally versatile and impactful perennial, bringing a long-lasting burst of sunny color to a wide range of garden styles.
- Middle Border Powerhouse: Its strong, upright habit and impressive bloom density make it an ideal choice for the middle of perennial borders, where it provides consistent summer interest without sprawling.
- Pollinator Paradise: Plant extensively in pollinator gardens to actively attract and support butterflies and bees, contributing significantly to local biodiversity.
- Cottage Garden Staple: The cheerful, abundant yellow blooms and sturdy form fit perfectly into the informal charm of cottage garden designs.
- Prairie & Meadow Authenticity: Given its North American native heritage, 'Rays for Days' is a natural fit for naturalistic prairie or meadow plantings, providing structured height and vibrant color.
- Eclectic Charm: Its bold color and unique double flowers allow it to serve as a striking focal point or a complementary element in eclectic garden compositions.
- Mass Planting for Impact: For an unforgettable spectacle, plant 'Rays for Days' in large masses or drifts. The sheer volume of golden yellow, double blooms will create a breathtaking visual statement across the summer landscape.
- Superior Cut Flower: The tall, strong stems and durable, Zinnia-like double flowers make it an outstanding choice for cutting gardens. Its blooms are long-lasting in arrangements, bringing joy indoors.
- Container Accent: While larger, it can still be used as a striking "thriller" or "filler" in very large combination containers, providing continuous summer color and vertical interest.
- Drought-Tolerant Beds: Its excellent heat and drought tolerance make it a reliable performer in xeriscape-inspired gardens or any sunny bed facing dry conditions.
Hardiness
'Rays for Days' is exceptionally hardy, thriving across USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9. This wide adaptability means it can endure very cold winters and hot summers, making it a reliable and long-lived perennial in diverse climates.
Planting and Cultivation
- Location: For optimal growth and maximum flower production, plant 'Rays for Days' in full sun, meaning it requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate part shade (4-6 hours of direct sun), performance will be reduced, with fewer blooms and potentially weaker stems. It thrives in hot conditions.
- Soil: This False Sunflower prefers average soil fertility and moisture. It is adaptable to various soil types (poor, average, fertile) as long as drainage is excellent. Avoid overly rich, consistently wet soils, as this can lead to excessive, floppy growth that may necessitate staking. Good drainage is critical to prevent root rot. It tolerates acidic to neutral soil pH.
- Planting:
- Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and at least twice as wide to allow for root spread.
- Carefully remove the plant from its container, gently loosening any circling or matted roots.
- Place the plant in the hole so that the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil surface.
- Backfill with soil, gently tamping down to ensure good soil-to-root contact and eliminate air pockets.
- Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil.
- Watering: 'Rays for Days' has average water needs. While establishing, ensure consistent moisture. Once established, it is remarkably drought tolerant and will perform well even in dry conditions, thanks to its excellent heat and drought tolerance. Water regularly during prolonged dry spells, but avoid overwatering.
- Fertilization: Avoid excessive fertilization, particularly with high-nitrogen fertilizers, which can encourage lush foliage at the expense of flowering and may lead to weaker stems. In most average soils, a light application of a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges is sufficient, if desired.
- Maintenance:
- Deadheading: To significantly extend the flowering period and prevent unwanted self-seeding, deadhead (remove spent flower heads) regularly. This redirects the plant's energy into producing more blooms.
- Winter Care: In late fall, you can cut back the spent flower stems to the ground, or leave them for architectural interest and to provide seeds for winter birds.
- Staking: Due to its strong stems and compact form, 'Rays for Days' is less likely to require staking than older, taller Heliopsis varieties, especially when grown in average soil.
- Pests and Diseases: Generally a robust and healthy perennial, 'Rays for Days' is rarely troubled by serious pests or diseases.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
