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The Society
Connecticut Plants
Ox-eye (False Sunflower)
Heliopsis helianthoides
- Family: aster (Asteraceae)
- Habitat: meadows, open woods, thickets
- Height: 2-5 feet
- Flower size: flowerheads 2 inches across
- Flower color: yellow
- Flowering time: July to September
- Origin: native
Ox-eye flowers closely resemble those of sunflowers. They can be distinguished by their ray flowers (the petal-like flowers at the edge of the flower head). Ray flowers of ox-eye have pistils, but those on sunflowers are sterile, as they have neither pistils nor stamens.