Helianthus 'Miss Melish'

Thin-leaved Sunflower Asteraceae

A wonderfully old-fashioned perennial sunflower with the good manners to be robust without becoming a thug. ‘Miss Melish’ has been grown in British gardens for well over a century and was already being described in American nursery catalogues in the early 20th century as a popular English garden sunflower. Historical listings associate it with Helianthus laetiflorus, although its exact parentage and modern species placement are somewhat muddled in horticulture. 

It forms a handsome, upright clump of green foliage, topped from late summer into autumn by cheerful, bright-yellow flowers with yellow discs. The flowers are excellent for cutting, while the late flowering period makes it particularly valuable when the border is beginning to run out of enthusiasm. 

Unlike some perennial sunflowers, ‘Miss Melish’ remains reasonably well behaved and makes an excellent mid- to back-border plant in full sun. Give it fertile, reasonably moist soil for maximum performance, although it is far from precious.

Height: 120–150cm | Spread: 60–90cm
Flowering: August–October | Foliage: Deciduous
Hardiness: H6 (-20 to -15°C)

Please note: depending on the time of year, some plants may be cut back before dispatch. This is normal horticultural practice and helps ensure plants arrive in good condition and establish strongly after planting.