This native perennial produces masses of colorful flowers in late summer.
Add glorious late-season color to your landscape with helenium, also known as sneezeweed.
This sun-loving nativeperennialdelivers long-lasting floral displays each year from mid- to late summer through fall.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
It features bright green foliage that contrasts beautifully with velvety, daisy-like flowers.
Most varieties feature flowers with petals in a stiff skirt that spreads out from the center.
Others sport flowers with downward-facing petals in the manner of a shuttlecock.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Where to Plant Helenium
Select a site infull sunwith well-drained, acidic soil.
Sneezeweed is the most attractive planted as a grouping or as a mass planting.
It is also a fantastic addition to a pollinator garden, drawing all kinds of butterflies and bees.
Credit: Cynthia Haynes
Place the plant in the hole and fill in original soil to the top of the root ball.
Gently tamp down the soil and water it well.
Keep it watered until the plant is established.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Space plants 3 to 4 feet apart.
Helenium Plant Care Tips
Like most native plants, helenium requires little care once established.
Some of the taller varieties may require support orstakingto keep plants upright.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Although some varieties tolerate afternoon shade, this plant typically becomes floppy and leggy in part-shade conditions.
Water at least weekly, increasing frequency in times of extreme heat.
Although similar in looks to bothblack-eyed Susanandconeflowers, this plant does not share their ability to withstand droughts.
Credit: Richard Hirneisen
It also dislikes boggy areas, so verify the planting bed doesn’t retain standing water.
Fertilizer
If planted in fertile soil, the plant has no to moderate fertilizer needs.
At the most, feed it a balancedflower fertilizeronce per year in the spring.
Credit: Greg Ryan
Once it’s done blooming, cut the flower stalks down to the foliage.
Pests and Problems
Generally, helenium is not often affected by pests and diseases.
The most serious disease is aster yellows.
Credit:Bob Stefko
It is due to a bacterial infection and cannot be treated.
Dispose of infected plants promptly to prevent the disesase from spreading.
Poor drainage and the presence of pathogens in the soil can lead to root rot.
Potential pests on helenium include aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, and spider mites.
Occasionally, slugs feed on the plants.
Dig out the clump and separate it into smaller sections.
Replant them at the same depth as the original plant and water it well until established.
Direct sow seeds outdoors 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost.
In a warm climate, it’s possible for you to also plant the seeds in the fall.
Transplant the seedlings outdoors after the last spring frost.
Its upright clumps may reach 3 feet tall.
Zone 48
‘Moerheim Beauty’ Helenium
Helenium’Moerheim Beauty' seldom tops 3 feet.
Its coppery-red ray flowers surround a darker disc.
It only grows about 12 inches in height and has gold flowers and finely textured foliage.
It produces showy, unusual flower spikes with little tubular flowers in white, pink, or purple.
They’re excellent as cut flowers.
Square stems carry pairs of mid-green (sometimes variegated), lance-shaped foliage, toothed along the edges.
Obedient plant tolerates most soils, but tends to become aggressive when given ample water and full sun.
It tolerates most soils.
The species gets 3 to 6 feet tall and has an upright growth habit.
The flowers have purple rays and yellow centers.
It spreads slowly over time and adds stunning vertical accents wherever it is planted.
It blooms in mid to late summer.
Coneflowers are generally a little shorter and sturdier than helenium and more drought-tolerant.
It is called sneezeweed because it was once used for making snuff.
