Common Names: Sneezeweed, Helen's Flower
If you don't like yellow or orange in the garden, don't write off Heleniums. For one thing, their timing is superb. They only provide their fall colours in fall, when perhaps they are more acceptable. Another matter are their colours. Not all are all that fiery in colour. Some varieties are almost a rosy-mahogany, making them ripe for use in both masculine schemes of lime and burgundy, and mostly pink and blue gardens such as those found in less adventuresome cottage gardens.
For those of you who hot fall colours, but have been turned off by the crown-rotting nature of Gallardia and Gloriosa daisies, rest assured these plants are very hardy and robust in their nature. No soggy crowns on these! Heleniums are incredibly easy to grow.
How to grow Heleniums
Heleniums grow well in ordinary garden soil and succeed quite will in most conditions gardens have to offer, other than bogs. They like a sunny position.
They will reach close to 3 feet in bloom (75 cm), but for the bulk of summer they will stick to 18 inches (45 cm).
The plants should be cut back in early-winter, just to clear away the foliage. They are best left uncovered for the winter, except for in zones below 6, where a mulch of leaves or straw will help protect the crowns from being heaved up by winter frosts. They are grown in zones as cold as 2.
They should be lifted and divided up every few years, depending on how suitable the spot is. Do this in spring. For more information on divison see Dividing Perennials - Beginner Style.
For the best results...
In mid-summer, chop the plants back down to about 1 foot off the ground. You may see that they are about to bloom, but doing this will result in a much more impressive show, later into the seasons of fall and even winter if your winters are mild. This is also recommended for the prolific fall bloomers Asters and Chrysanthemums.
Bee and Butterfly Lovers
They are an excellent bee and butterfly attractor, and are not appreciated by rabbits, although deer will clear cut them quickly.
WARNING: Contact with the plant might cause dermatitis in sensitive people
Combining Heleniums with other plants
Their placement in nature puts them next to plants such as grasses and wildflowers like Bachelors Buttons and Larkspur. If you are attempting a wild-flower garden, they are highly recommended.
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