Don't Let Its Name Put you off

'Helena' sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
'Helena' is a mixed cultivar with numerous colour variations and grow to 2 feet.
Rubinzwerg sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
'Rubinzwerg' is a compact cultivar with mahogany coloured petals.
sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
A variety of heleniums mix with a collection of cone flowers along this sunny perennial border.
sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
Rusty brown coloured seed heads produce many seeds.
sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
Flowers are coveted by bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
There many different varieties including this one that has a prominent ball for the centre disk with drooping ray petals.
sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
Heleniums flower for months from late July through to first frost.
sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
Heleniums make a statement with all their sunny flowers.
'Bandera' sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
'Bandera' is a compact cultivar that reaches 18 inches.
​Common Name:  sneezeweed
Botanical Name:  Helenium autumnale
Form:    upright, clumping
Family:  Asteraceae
Genus:  Helenium
Species:  autumnale
Plant Type: herbaceous perennial
Mature Size:  3-5 ft. tall and 2-3 ft wide
Growth: fast
Origin:  North and South Americas
Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
Foliage:  narrow lance-shaped up to 6” long, alternate
Flowers: showy daisy-like, composite 2” flowers held in clusters, wedge-shaped, scalloped petal tips, yellow and/or orange ray petals encircle a protruding pollen laden disk. Late July to frost. 
Fruit:  rust coloured seed clusters
Stems:  winged stems that branch at the ends
Exposure:  sun
Soil:  tolerant of most soil except very dry
Uses:  perennials borders, mixed borders, containers, meadows, naturalized areas, cottage gardens, pollinators, butterflies, songbirds, rain garden, along streams & ponds, cut flower, deer resistant
Propagation:   seeds, division of roots
Pruning:  cut back stems in late May to early June to encourage compact growth, more flowers and to reduce the need for staking, deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooms
​Problems:  not prone to insects or diseases, intolerant of dry soils
Comments: 
This delightful and showy late blooming perennial has many assets, except for its name –sneezeweed. Once used as snuff, their dried leaves were inhaled to rid the body of evil spirits. Now it’s used as a reliable, easy growing perennial, perfect for sunny locations that flowers for months long after other flowers have faded.  
 
Plant breeders have created new and exciting varieties and cultivars from this wetland loving indigenous plant from the Americas. Colours now range from yellow, orange, deep reds and golds in delightful combinations. Flowers are bigger and more bodacious on smaller and more compact plants.
 
Their daisy-like, composite flowers are perfect for butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects. Their round centre provide a perfect place for them to land so they can easily feed on the copious amounts of pollen.
 
Heleniums like moist organic rich soil and are a perfect late summer and fall flower when planted next to streams, ponds and raingardens. To increase soil moisture and retention, add compost, composted manure and other organic matter. 
sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
Leaves are simple and lance-shaped.
sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
Pinch the tips off stems in May to early June to promote compact growth and more flowers.
sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
Ridges along the stems are a good way to identify heleniums.
sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
This 5 year old sneezeweed plant needs to be dug up and divided.
sneezeweed,helenium autumnale,North America indigenous plant,wildflower,autumn flowering perennial,fall flowers,plants for moist soils,September plant of the month
Keeping it simple with a single type of helenium planted en masse.