Helenium

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Common Name

Sneezeweed

Scientific Name

Helenium

Plant Category

Perennial

Location

North and Central America

Height

12-36 inches

Width

2-3 inches

Blooming Season

Fall or late summer

Plant Habit

Tall-growing, upright

Color

Gold, rust, orange or red

Sun

Full sun

Soil

Moist and rich soil

Water

Moderate

Plant Characteristics

Attractive to bees, butterflies or birds. Fast-growing.

Usage

Usually used as border plants. Makes an excellent ground cover, and can fill in any gaps in flower beds. Also good as cut flowers.

Information

Heleniums are tall growing plants which are closely related to sunflowers. Many groups of Native Americans cultivated and used heleniums for various medicinal purposes, including treating fevers and head colds. The common name, sneezeweed, was probably derived from the use of the dried flowers as snuff by natives and early settlers. The blooming period is from June to the end of September. The flowers are flat and are borne in large heads or clusters. The plants grow from 1 foot to 6 feet high. Heleniums have daisy-like flowers with brown centers. The buds and immature flowers are attractively striped and the flowers last up to two weeks. They have a prominent central vein and margins that are smooth or slightly serrate. Their root systems are shallow and fibrous.

Growing Tips

Heleniums like moist and rich soil and a sunny location. The plants should be spaced two or more feet apart. To keep the tall plants neater, cut them back around the month of July. They will branch out and bloom on shorter, bushier stems. Deadhead plants after blooms have started to fade. One way to help keep heleniums from stretching too tall is to pinch the stem tips in spring or early summer, when the stems are about 6 to 8 inches tall. This encourages bushiness and better flowering. After a few seasons, the clumps of heleniums become denser and flowering decreases. To rejuvenate the plants, dig up the clumps and divide them every four years.

Common Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Foliage is susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spot and rust. Plants generally require some staking or other support and may benefit from pinching or cutback.