False Sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Papaipema rigida
S13+S15 1 verified Eastern NA
🐝 Specialist Bee Host: Andrena peckhami, Melissodes trinodis
S17 Fowler lists both as Asteraceae specialists on Heliopsis

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Not ranked (SNR) in both Ontario and Quebec. Globally secure at G5. Not listed under SARA. Widespread across eastern and central North America with no conservation concerns at provincial or federal levels.
S22 S26
Rarity Ranks: QC SNR – Not Ranked, ON SNR – Not Ranked
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Inhabits open woodlands, woodland borders and clearings, tallgrass prairies, savannas, and limestone glades across eastern and central North America. In the Ottawa-Hull region, documented in moist to dry habitats from ditch margins near streams to dry sandy clearings. Typically found on mesic to dry soils in sun to part shade, often associated with disturbed sites, roadsides, and railroad rights-of-way. Listed as Common on both sides of the Ottawa River in 1978 but classified as Introduced in Ottawa proper.
S29 S54 S7 S63 S62

Roles: Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: spines? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]
Notes: Excellent insectory plant attracting long-tongued bees, Halictine bees, bee flies, butterflies, and soldier beetles. Deep fibrous roots provide soil stabilization. Tolerates juglone from black walnut, making it valuable near Juglans nigra. Clumping habit with limited spread suits formal garden borders and wildflower meadow plantings.
S29 S3

Category: Stimulant, Pulmonary Aid, Febrifuge, Antimalarial
S28 Chippewa Stimulant + Meskwaki Pulmonary Aid; S29 Febrifuge + Malaria
Notes: Chippewa people used a decoction of dried root or chewed fresh root spit on limbs as a stimulant. Meskwaki used the root for lung troubles. Leaves brewed in strong tea to reduce fevers and loosen phlegm; stems used to treat malaria.
S28 S29

❌ Not Edible

Foraging Notes: Flowers have a mild taste and can be used as a garnish or in salads. Moerman records no food use among Indigenous peoples; the two ethnobotanical records are exclusively medicinal (Drug category).
S29 S28