I spotted these huge masses of bright, cheerful flowers while touring the famous Butchart gardens on Canada's Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Each branched stem was 3-5 feet tall and covered in dozens of flowers 2 -3 inches in diameter. Helenium sneezeweed. What a name! I sniffed the flowers. Later, I learned that not the flowers, but its dry leaves were once commonly used by Native Americans to make snuff. It is native to North America, but got popular among its gardeners only after breeders in Europe came with its nice varieties. Gold, rust, orange, yellow, mahogany, orange-red, copper-red - these are the shades Helenium's flowers come in. The brown button on the top is like a cherry on top of a cake!
Helenium blooms from late summer to September (August to November according to some sources) and, they say, it can rebloom.
In the mixed perennial border in the Butchart Sunken Garden, Helenium looked gorgeous, blended with other late-blooming plants and grasses.
Helenium is not difficult to grow. It loves full sun, fertile soil, can tolerate some moisture (another name of it is swamp sunflower).
USDA zones 3 - 10.
P.S. Some sources say that
Helenium autumnale L.(bitterweed, common sneezeweed, false sunflower) can be weedy or invasive.
***Copyright 2012 TatyanaS
I have had a cluster of three over the last couple years, have had to pull out a couple because of Aster yellows, a disease spread by leafhoppers. I love the various colors of this beautiful flower. May plant more next year, in a different location, maybe the leafhoppers won't find it!
ReplyDeleteHi Janet! Yellow is not my favorite color, but I like that brown button! I hope those leafhoppers pack their suitcases and move away!
DeleteThat's an interesting flower. Different.
ReplyDeleteSadun, they look funny, especially the yellow ones!
DeleteA splash of colour! Beautiful unique shape of flowers. I might try it in our garden, in the not too swampy part that gets the most sun. Thanks for telling me about this fower!
ReplyDeleteBye,
Marian
Thanks, Marian! They look especially good in masses!
DeleteWow, that third one i love best. Even at the stage of dehiscence the expert photographer Tatyana can still enhance their beauty, in the first photo. Lovely sights.
ReplyDeleteAndrea, their aging is beautiful...
Deletewonderful flowers, love the last photo especially where it is teamed with yellow and lime green coloured euphorbia. The colour range is the same as pokers.
ReplyDeletecatmint, I agree, designers did a great job developing a color scheme.
DeleteHow beautiful they are Tatyana! Mine are sadly gone now along with everything else. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteLona, these are August pictures. They are gone there, too...
DeleteBeautiful the Helenium flowers, I had them years ago in my garden, but they have gone despite of not being a difficult perennial.
ReplyDeleteJanneke, I never had them in my garden.
DeleteVery nice. Not of my color scheme but still lovely in other gardens.
ReplyDeleteGrace, I like their shape more than color.
DeleteVery pretty--I've always liked Helenium. I like your description of a cake with a cherry on the top!
ReplyDeletePlantPostings, thank you! Now, I crave for a real cake!
DeleteI love our Helenium. I've never noticed it becoming invasive, that's for sure. It's certainly a great fall flower.
ReplyDeleteHelenium is quite popular around here. They are very pretty. I never knew the history behind the name though!
ReplyDelete