A couple of years ago a new summer flowering plant was added to the Fairegarden. Not especially showy or splashy, but with a name that could not be denied. Helenium, or Helen’s flower. Helen was my mother’s name. Her middle name was Frances.
(Shown above trying to break through to center stage between two Eryngiums.)
The flowers were so cheerful and brought to mind such fond memories, a second plant was added. Both were H. ‘Mardi Gras’ and they were indeed like a joyful party.
The little buzzers found the pincushion heads to be the perfect spot to kick up their heels. If they have heels.
Drought tolerant and standing tall, it was decided that more, the magic words in gardening, were needed. Fate would bring H. ‘Coppelia’ into the shopping cart while on an offspring visit to Asheville, North Carolina at B.B.Barnes nursery.
Next stop, present day. Seeds were purchased and started in the greenhouse/sunroom using the handy dandy heat mat and grow lights. Helenium autumnale ‘Sunshine hybrid’ was said to be: “Scarlet, orange, yellow, gold and mahogany blooms with dark centers. This Helenuium is something special. ” by Thompson and Morgan. Who could resist? Not I said the fly. Not me said the flea.
Purported to flower the first year from seed, we can vouch for the veracity of that statement. The plants are juvenile in size, but all the seedlings have flowered, offering an assortment of colorways.
All of the plants have shown great promise for future years of glorious blooms.
A delightful surprise was this solid yellow. Showing the same vigor and floriferousness as the store bought plants, one packet of seeds has provided the longed for *sea of* in the area known as the shed bed.
One of the teenagers turned out to be mostly red. This one will be tagged and the seed gathered to be sowed, sown?, this winter.
Due to a policy of truth in advertising, lest you think all is perfection in the shed bed of the Fairegarden, this warts and all shot will dissuade you of that notion. With the appalling satellite dish in the background just on the other side of the dreadful silver hued chain link fence, yes it is my fence, erected by my dollar, the shed bed is a bit unruly, to put it kindly. The Belamcandas are sporting swollen seed pods that pull the stems earthward, the once named Stipa now known as Nasella tenuissima has straw like dead bits in the majority of its blades and the spent once blue Eryngiums are bronzed in death. It is the tangled mane of the long haired child, uncombable even with a whole bottle of Herbal Essence conditioner. But the dots of Helen brighten the scene considerably, to the eye and to the heart.
Here are some fun facts about Helenium autumnale from our favorite go to source, Mobot, the Missouri Botanical Garden:
Common Name: sneezeweed
Zone: 3 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Missouri Native: Yes
Native Range: North America
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: August – October
Bloom Color: Yellow rays and dull yellow center disks
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun. Prefers rich, moist soils. Intolerant of dry soils. (Frances says: dry soils is a relative term. Ours are very dry during our drought ridden summers and do well.) Avoid overfertilization which may cause plants to grow too tall. Although not required, plants may be cut back in early June (at least six weeks before normal flowering) to reduce plant height and to encourage branching, thus leading to a more floriferous bloom, healthier foliage and less need for support. Remove spent flowers to encourage additional bloom. Cut back plants by 1/2 after flowering. Divide clumps as needed (every 3-4 years) to maintain vigor. (Frances says: I don’t do that, but maybe should.)
Noteworthy Characteristics:
This sneezeweed is an erect, clump-forming, Missouri native perennial which occurs in moist soils along streams, ponds or ditches and in spring-fed meadows, prairie and wet open ground throughout most of the State (Steyermark). Typically grows 3-5′ tall on rigid, distinctively winged stems which branch near the top. Features clusters of daisy-like flowers (2″ diameter) with distinctive wedge-shaped, bright yellow rays (three-lobed at the tips) and prominent, dome-like, dull yellow center disks. Flowers appear over a lengthy late summer to autumn (sometimes to first frost) bloom as indicated by species name. Alternate, lance-shaped, dark green leaves (to 6″ long). Powdered disk flowers and leaves of this species have in the past been dried and used as snuff, thus giving rise to the common name of sneezeweed.(Frances says: Now that is interesting. I thought it was called sneezeweed because it bloomed at the same time as the notorious Ragweed and blame was misguided.)
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Foliage is susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spot and rust. This species generally requires some staking or other support and will benefit from pinching or July-cutback as detailed above. (Frances says: Or plant it among friendly neighbors that will help hold it erect, like Nasella.)
Uses:
Borders. Also effective in prairies, meadows, cottage gardens, wild gardens, naturalized areas or in moist soils along bodies of water.
(Frances says: or dry slopes.)
Highly recommended.
Frances
Fairegarden 
Frances, I don’t have one in my garden (head hung in shame!) I did plant Helenium autumnale ‘Moerheim Beauty’ last year but it didn’t come through the winter. I think it had been in its pot too long! I really must get plants into the ground quicker. I think I may buy some seed next year and hope for a lovely variety like yours.
Best wishes Sylvia (England)
Reminds me of the Blanket Flower. That teenager just had to do something to get attention! At least this teenager got it right!
Hi Frances,
I love Helen’s flower. I don’t grow it (yet) but whenever I see it around I always admire it.
As ever I’m always knocked out with your photos. I’ve just bought a new camera, trouble is everytime I attempt to read the instructions, bearing in mind there’s a zillion pages I lose the will to live. Eventually I’ll get there.
I’ve a solid yellow Helenium too. Perfect sunshine on a rainy day like today 🙂
Have a great weekend!
Frances, I have you set up on readomattic at WordPress on my blog, but I had to come to your site, what a difference in the quality of the pictures.
It is always lovely when we find a plant named after a loved one, and we can plant it in our garden as a tribute to them. It makes that plant extra special. (Boy, I am using the word plant alot).
Deborah
How sweet you have a flower that reminds you of your Momma. I love to incorporate plants into the garden that reminds me of people I love.
I really like these Helenium that are multi colored like Mardi Gras. I haven’t planted any of the beauties…I wonder why? Not me said the flea?? Are you going through a withdrawal from Kiddie Lit? I usually have Mother Goose floating through my head.
Frances you have dedicated a post to one of my most favorite flower loves : ) PERFECT !!!
I am making notes for next year to squeeze a section just for different cultivars of this beauty .. you have given me a few more to add to the collection, thank you girl !!
Joy 😉
PS .. I have yet to sneeze ? LOL
I love Helen’s flower and it sure does do well in dry soil. I start all of mine from cuttings when I snip them back in summer, and a friend just brought me some cuttings of the different colored ones. I only have the solid yellowed flowered one. Bought it mail order one year. I did not know it was once used as snuff. I thought the same as you with the ragweed. It is a wonderful flower and your colors are gorgeous. Even nicer it shares a name with your mother.
Your sneezeweed is as pretty as you described Frances. I think the yellow is lovely, but my eye is drawn to the flashy reds and oranges! I could use more of that in the sunny beds. Love, love, love the long haired child with tangled hair description of the Shed Bed! I am sure my mother despaired of my hair as a child before there were products! Have a sweet weekend~~gail
Hi Frances, I grew a Helenium for a couple of years, but then it died out. I thought at the time that she was liked Gaillardia and only had a couple of seasons in her. Now, I wonder if I gave her too much water. Anyway, I love yours. So beautiful. Nice attachment to the name too.~~Dee
I don’t have any here but they definitely are worth planning on for next year. The blooms are great. They remind me of some of the Gaillardias.
I love Helenium, I have both the Mardi Gras and the native variety. MG blooms earlier and is shorter. Helenium is named after Helen of Troy, as it was her favorite flower. And you know how I’m always envious of all the plants you can grown there in your warmer zone? Please indulge me by letting me say Helenium are showier here–my groupings are lush (tall and wide), even from the first season. Yay! They look really nice next to Mexican hat. 🙂
You can see photos from last year’s garden at my old blog here: http://blog.mlive.com/fullbloom/2008/09/favorite_fall_bloomers_heleniu.html
Great post on Helen’s flower Frances… I especially love the yellow flowers… and congratulations on your photo win!
Such a useful late summer plant I really must get more. Great shots phew nice to know you have some warts but I am afraid this area looks good to my eyes.
What a lovely thought, Frances … imagine being reminded of your mother every time you see this flower !
That teenager is really flamboyant 🙂 Lovely photos, Frances.
Frances — lovely ladies. I’ve always liked these flowers, but don’t have any of them. Great info you provide.
I visit all these blogs, see all these “must have” plants, than I “get real” about space. IF I only had space, a place, for another pretty face…
Cameron
I am dutifully noting all late summer/fall bloomers you mention and I hope my yard will be better for it next year!
Helenium bloomed in my garden for the first time this year, too Frances. I love their low, compact form and beautiful range of colors. Fun that you started some from seeds! Especially nice though is when a plant conjures up thoughts/feelings of a loved one.
I was ogling the ‘Mardi Gras’ in Bluestone’s Catalog this past spring. Now that I see how easy & pretty yours our doing, this might have to be added to the wishlist. 🙂
Those are really interesting. I might have to look into them. 😉
I LOVE my helenium Moerheim Beauty. It grows all by itself in a prominent spot in my lawn, and blooms from early summer right into Fall. I do deadhead it when I remember, but other than that it is a beautiful and carefree plant. I started mine from seeds my aunt sent me many years ago, and I think it should be in every garden!
Here’s an interesting website dedicated to helenium. Who knew there were that many cultivars?
http://www.helenium.net/
I love the combo of the Eryngiums with the Helenium peeking through in the background. You do take the most fabulous photos.
I think I need to try some of these next year. I loved ‘Coppelia’. I wonder if I might find any at the nursery still…
I like the choice colours you have for the heleniums. Helenium – Helen’s flower. Usually a person is named after a flower but this flower is named after a person. Great! Have a lovely weekend, Frances.
Frances, this is a plant I’ve been looking at for some time and trying to find a place for in my garden; thanks for the recommendation! What really clinched it, though, was that it blooms in late summer. I could definitely use some color right now.
Thanks, too, for being brave enough to show the “warts and all” photo. My front garden is looking much the same way at the moment now that the coneflowers are fading. I think I may take the pruners to it…I spent many hours years ago combing out the thick unruly tresses of older Daughter after each shampoo. For us, it was Johnson’s “No More Tangles.” She still remembers watching “Hunter” on Saturday nights while I combed through all the tangles:) But she does have beautiful, thick hair today!
Lovely photos, Frances. I only have Moerheim beauty at the moment, but looking at all the different colours you have has made me want more. I love the way that the centre of the flower changes as the blooms age.
Love the sneezeweed(like the name Helen’s flower better). Got one for my new sun bed this year….very happy with it.
You mention the ‘shed area’…when I’m back in the shed area I try not to look at our neighbors ivy growing into the yard,weeds and all the bags etc my husband has stored there plus all the plastic containers…scary.
She’s one of my favorites, too. I have several kinds, and after reading this post, I may have to find that Mardi Gras. Thanks for showing your unruly area. Helen blooms do draw the eye away from other things. Plus, she makes the rest look like fillers for her bouquet.
I am always surprised at how beautiful the cultivars of Sneezeweed are, after seeing the short scrubby Sneezeweed in the neighbor’s pasture. These truly are like a flower party!
Frances, Even though there’s not quite room for it, I have Helen’s flower in my Microgarden, too. You can guess why. It’s in a fairly dry spot in sandy soil and semi-shade, yet it has been a reliable late-summer bloomer for many years. Some years (such as this year) I do what you suggested and pinch it back in spring to keep it compact. A great flower. Mine is yellow, but I love all the bicolours. Great photos, as always.
Thanks for the shout-out to my husband!! He finally gave in!! The orange cat is coming tomorrow!
They are delightful. I love the way each one looks slightly different colour wise. If some are drought tolerant I might give them a go – my soil is very light and some perennials go all droopy!
Frances, lovely flower and I know it(they) must bring you much joy!
Frances, The heleniums are a pretty flower. My grandmother’s name is also Helen and I think she would have liked knowing there was a plant bearing her name. I will look for some of these. thanks for a very interesting post.
Also I think those Eryngiums are a very different looking flower. Another one I will look for. Thanks again.
Hi Frances! I don’t have it in my garden. Your story and description make me think about adding it to my perennial bed. Coppelia looks especially good for me, since the yellow is not my favorite color. Blooms in Aug.-October? Sold!
Wow, no wonder you have so many comments. Fantastic photos and unusual blogging material. I am glad you are sharing.
I wonder if I said your blog was para normal would that be correct. Would it take on a negative connotation. If it does I won’t say it. I’ll just say it is fascinating. Particularly I like the first posted pictures at the top. I am curious why is it called faere?
jo
[from arootdiggerssunnyside]
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If you’d like to see what one native Texan species is like, you can take a look at Helenium quadridentatum: