Helenium

Helenium

Helenium autumnale ( Fall Helenium )
Also called Sneezeweed. A fast growing, perennial, forming large, dense clumps, reaching up to 6.5 x 2.5 ( rarely over 4 ) feet, that is native to wet prairies and bottomlands of North America ( from Vancouver Island to Kamloops, British Columbia to Drumheller, Alberta to southern Saskatchewan to Manitoba to Kenora, Ontario to Thunder Bay, Ontario to Tobermory, Ontario to far southeast Quebec and northern New York State; south to northern California to central Texas to northern Florida ). It is critically endangered in Alberta. In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was considered uncommon in southern Essex County during the 1800s, except for the Canard River valley where it was locally common. It was abundant at Detroit, Michigan as well as on the Ohio shore during presettlement era. It is an excellent plant for color at the back of a landscape border. It is an important host plant for Dainty Sulfur Butterfly.
The toothed, lance-shaped to narrowly-oblong leaves are up to 6.5 x 2 inches in size. The foliage is mid-green.
The yellow flowers, up to 2 inches across, are borne in large clusters from mid-summer into early autumn. Each "daisy" has up to 20 reflexed petals.
The flowers attract butterflies.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun to partial shade on well drained soil. They prefer consistantly moist soil but will tolerate drought with less vigor. Fall Helenium will tolerate poorly drained, wet sites. Deer and rabbit resistant, insect pests and disease problems are rare but may include rust and powdery mildew.
For bushier, sturdier plants, cut or pinch plants back half way during very early summer. Cut back after flowering to encourage more flowering.
Propagation is from seed, basal cuttings and division.

* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Sep 13 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 6 2020 @ Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photos taken on Sep 15 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 1 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 16 2024 in Bayfield, ON

* historic archive photos

'Bruno'
Reaches up to 4 x 4 feet, with very deep red flowers borne late season.

'Butterpat'
Compact and sturdy in habit, reaching up to 4 feet, with pure yellow flowers borne late season.

'Coppelia'
Sturdy in habit, reaching up to 3 feet with intense orange flowers borne over a very long season from mid-summer to mid-autumn.

* photo of unknown internet source

* photo taken on Aug 29 2013 in Clarksville, MD

'Goldrausch'
Also called 'Gold Rustle'. A strong growing perennial, reaching up to 5.5 feet.
The very abundant, bright yellow and brown flowers are borne all summer long.
Hardy zones 5 to 8

* photos taken on Aug 1 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

'Hayday Red'
Fast growing, compact, sturdy, upright in habit, reaching up to 1.5 x 1.5 feet.
The ruby-red flowers are borne all summer into fall.
Hardy zones 5 to 9

'Hayday Yellow'
Fast growing, compact, sturdy, upright in habit, reaching up to 1.5 x 1.5 feet.
The bright golden-yellow flowers are borne all summer into fall.
Hardy zones 5 to 9

'Mardi Gras'
Strongly upright, reaching up to 4 x 2.8 ( rarely over 3.5 ) feet with yellow ( splashed heavily with orange and red ) flowers.
The eye of the flowers is deep brown.

* photos taken on Aug 29 2013 in Clarksville, MD

* photos taken by Dr. Nick V. Kurzenko @ CalPhotos

* photo taken on Sep 15 2013 in Howard Co., MD

'Mariachi Fuego'
Vigorous growing and dense in habit, reaching a maximum size of 2.8 x 2.7 ( rarely over 2 x 2 ) feet in size.
The narrow elliptical leaves are up to 3.2 x 0.9 inches in size.
The flowers, up to 1.6 inches wide, are orange with golden-yellow tips and inner surrounding the brown cone. The flowers appear early summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 9.

* photo taken on July 5 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 17 2014 in Baltimore Co., MD

* photos taken on Aug 16 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 12 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 20 2020 in Columbia, MD

'Mariachi Salsa'
A vigorous though compact perennial, reaching up to 2 x 2.3 feet in 1 year, eventually to a maximum size of 3 x 3 ( rarely over 2 x 2.7 ) feet, It is great for containers.
The narrow elliptical leaves are up to 3.2 x 0.9 inches in size. The abundant, fiery-red flowers, up to 1.8 inches wide, are borne mid-ummer to early autumn. Hardy zones 3 to 8.

* photo taken on Aug 29 2013 in Clarksville, MD

* photo taken on Sep 10 2014 in Mt Airy, MD

* photos taken on Oct 17 2014 in Baltimore Co., MD

* photo taken on Oct 26 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 8 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 12 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 20 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 5 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 5 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 15 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 29 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 5 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 15 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 27 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 3 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Mariachi Siesta'
A compact perennial, reaching up to 2 x 2.7 feet, bearing abundant golden-yellow ( with dark brown cone ) flowers borne mid-summer to early autumn. It is great for containers. The narrow elliptical leaves are up to 3.2 x 0.9 inches in size.
Hardy zones 3 to 8.

* photo taken on Aug 29 2013 in Clarksville, MD

* photos taken on Aug 12 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 20 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 5 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 15 2021 in Columbia, MD

'Mariachi Sombrero'
A moderately vigorous, compact perennial, reaching up to 1.2 x 2.1 feet in 2 years, eventually to 2.3 x 2.5 feet. It is great for containers.
The narrow elliptical leaves are up to 2.5 x 0.8 inches in size.
The abundant golden-yellow ( with dark brown cone ) flowers are borne early summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 8.

'Moerheim Beauty'
Upright in habit, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 4.5 feet, with very abundant, deep red ( centered black ) flowers borne mid to late summer.

* photo of unknown internet source

* photos taken on July 11 2014 in Washington, DC

* photo taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photo taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Red-Gold Hybrids'
Reaches up to 4.2 x 4 feet with red and golden-yellow flowers borne mid-summer to mid-autumn.

'Summer Circle'
Reaches up to 6.5 feet, with bright yellow flowers that are centered brown.

'Waldtraut'
Reaches up to 3.5 fx 3 feet, with deep orange and golden-yellow flowers borne mid to late summer.

* photo of unknown internet source

* photos taken on Aug 3 2012 in London, ON

Helenium bigelovii ( Mountain Sneezeweed )
A perennial, native to western North America ( from southwest Oregon to southern California ).
The lance-shaped leaves are glossy deep green.
The abundant, bright yellow are borne during late summer. The flowers attract butterflies.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun on moist to wet, well drained soil.

Helenium flexuosum ( Purplehead Sneezeweed )
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3.3 x 3 feet, that is native to moist prairies in the eastern U.S. ( from Minnesota to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to Quebec & Maine; south to eastern Texas to central Florida ).
The toothed leaves, up to 9 x 0.8 inches in size, can be either pinnnate or entire.
The abundant flowers, up to 3 inches across are bright yellow. The drooping petals are toothed at the tips. The flowers are borne mid-summer into autumn and attract butterflies.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun on moist soil. Cut back by 1/3 during early summer for denser habit.

* photo taken on July 10 2013 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken by Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

'Tiny Dancer'
A compact and bushy form, reaching a maximum size of 3 x 2 feet, bearing very profuse, bright yellow ( with brown cones ) flowers. It is great for use in containers.
Hardy zones 4 to 8

* photos taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

Helenium hoopesii ( Orange Helenium )
A compact perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 2 ( rarely over 3 ) feet, that is native from Oregon to Wyoming; south to California to New Mexico.
The oblanceolate leaves, up to 12 inches in length, are glossy gray-green.
The bright yellow ( with orange center ) daisies, up to 3 inches across, are borne all summer long.
Hardy zones 2 to 9 on well drained soil in full sun, preferrably moist but drought tolerant.

* photo of unknown internet source


ADDITIONAL CULTIVARS
https://www.jamesgreenhouses.com/plants/helenium-3/?r=h-j ( Hayday Orange )
https://www.jamesgreenhouses.com/plants/helenium-2/?r=h-j ( Hayday Red )
https://www.jamesgreenhouses.com/plants/helenium/?r=h-j ( Hayday Red Bicolor )
https://www.jamesgreenhouses.com/plants/helenium-5/?r=h-j ( Hayday Yellow )