Home Page
What to Plant
World of Plants
Other
Listen to Paul Parent and David Wilson as they discuss Heliopsis ‘Loraine Sunshine’ on the April 9, 2006 The Paul Parent Garden Club radio show [5:58 minutes]
Click on the picture for larger view
The story behind Heliopsis ‘Loraine Sunshine’ is one filled with joy and delight, chance and tragedy, and tender memories of a fine lady who truly loved her garden. She would no doubt take satisfaction in knowing that the plant she discovered now bears her name and brings pleasure to gardeners all over the world.
But there's more to this plant than just a great story. The truth is, Heliopsis ‘Loraine Sunshine’ is an incredible garden plant. It is a hardy, native perennial that has a one-of-a-kind variegation. It is so unique and spectacular that you really have to see it to believe it!
Heliopsis ‘Loraine Sunshine’'s leaves are eye-catching and amazing — white with dramatic, dark green veining. This remarkable variegation is so unusual you wonder how it produces enough chlorophyll to survive. Actually, it not only survives but thrives, giving a long-lasting and stunning display, extending almost from the moment of new growth in spring until the killing frost of late autumn. These colorful leaves dazzle and amaze regardless of wind, rain, or summer heat.
Now consider the flowers. Big, beautiful, 3" wide, daisy-like blooms are produced on strong stems and displayed prominently above the striking foliage. The bright, sunshine colored blossoms stand out against the greenish white background and provide a beaming accentuation to its presence. Typically, it starts flowering in mid-summer. With a little deadheading, it will keep on flowering continuously right up to the arrival of frost.
They are wonderful for cutting. Bring some of the lively color indoors, and you will find the blooms last a long time in water. The foliage makes a nice addition to arrangements as well.
Hardy to Zone 4 and growing to about 30" tall by about 18-20" wide, Heliopsis ‘Loraine Sunshine’ is great for positioning in the middle or towards the rear of perennial beds and borders. This is the perfect plant as an accent or focal point in an island bed or rising up out of carpets of ground cover. It is very effective when massed in bold, informal style groupings, and will look great in mixed borders with evergreen and deciduous shrubs. The extraordinary foliage and vibrant flowers will enliven the dull greens and dowdy look of past flowering shrubs.
The broad, inviting flowers will also encourage visiting butterflies. Deer do not usually bother with the foliage. Since it is not prone to any major pests and diseases, it is one of those reliable “no fuss” plants that can be used almost anywhere in the garden that matches the cultural requirements.
One of the most exciting ways to use it is in containers. The constant color provided by the foliage means that it will never be dreary. Because it's a good, vigorous grower, you can chop back the foliage as much as you like to keep it looking fresh and tidy and maintain a continuous display of weather resistant color.
Derived from a robust and adaptable native species, Heliopsis ‘Loraine Sunshine’ is easy to grow and look after. All it needs is a sunny location with reasonably fertile, well-drained soil. It thrives in good soil and will put on plenty of luxuriant growth when adequate moisture and fertility is present. It is a good idea to incorporate extra organic matter at planting time and mulch to retain moisture during dry spells.
Once established, it is tolerant of poorer soils and drier conditions. Thanks to its hearty, native origins, it will put on a good show even in less than ideal conditions. It tends to be shorter, more compact, and sturdier in the drier, sunny places, and will probably carry more flowers too.
Personally, I prefer the bright, variegated foliage over the flowers, so I make a point of developing the lush, growing conditions described above and concentrate on the foliage effect. Occasionally, I will trim some of the taller growth to keep the plants neat and tidy, promoting fresh, new shoots to spring up from the base and keep the plants looking sharp and lush.
While it is best in sunny sites, it will tolerate partial shade. It can add a cheery emphasis to places that receive some sun during at least part of the day. As a general rule, the more sun, the brighter and stockier the plants will be. Conversely, the more the shade increases, the lankier and less showy the plants will become.
Incidentally, it is important to mention that the seed, if allowed to mature and fall to the ground, is likely to throw up all green, strong growing seedlings that resemble the original native species. These are much taller and vigorous, so in a short time, if they are not removed, they are likely to overcrowd and smother the original plant.
Sunshine is such a critical part of this plant's name. It illustrates the conditions where it grows best, describes the color of the flowers, portrays the glowing effect that the foliage provides in the garden, and, most appropriately of all, depicts the personality of the woman who discovered it in her garden.
Loraine Mark, a valued employee, friend, and neighbor of Brent Hanson (Hanson's Garden Village, Rhinelander, Wisconsin), found this highly unusual seedling in her garden in 1992. She brought in a piece to show to Brent. It looked so remarkable that he asked the perennial department manager, Karen Stroede, to "go take a look at it." Karen's quick evaluation confirmed that this was a plant with potential. Cuttings were taken so they could begin to grow and test it in the nursery.
Tragically, in the same year as the first plants were being produced, Loraine suffered a sudden illness and passed away. She was sadly missed. Her happy, cheery personality always brought “sunshine” to her work, so Brent and her colleagues decided to name the new progeny ‘Loraine Sunshine’ as a tribute to her memory.
Blooms of Bressingham™ introduced it to gardeners in America, Canada, and Europe. Thanks to their worldwide distribution network, it is now available in countries as far away as New Zealand and Japan. It is now so popular that Brent estimates worldwide production to be close to one million plants annually.
Heliopsis ‘Loraine Sunshine’ is a very special plant. It is exceptional in so many ways, not the least of which is the delight that it brings to the hearts of all who see and enjoy it in their gardens.
It is quite extraordinary how a single seedling in a garden in Wisconsin was found by chance; admired and nurtured by a gardener with an engaging and cheery personality; later becoming a popular plant worldwide. It is humbling to know how it became dedicated to her memory by friends and colleagues, and then developed to be enjoyed by all of us. Now we, along with millions of other gardeners located all over the world, can experience the joy and pleasure of Heliopsis ‘Loraine Sunshine’.
This is a fitting example of how the beauty of plants and the finest ideals of gardening bring out the best in people. It is with pride that we share this plant with you. We hope that you will find a spot for it in your garden, and that your family, friends, and fellow gardeners will also enjoy the love, the beauty, and the luminous sunshine that it will bring to your life.
Until next time, remember.... Enjoy your gardening. It's good for you!
