Heleniummay be one of the most interesting wild flower you ’ve never heard of . Although widely distributed across North America , surprisingly , it is not as well known as it deserves to be . Curiously enough , this aboriginal North American perennial is ordinarily found in Europe where it was introduced in 1729 . It finally underwent extensive hybridizing by British and German horticulturalists . In fact , Britain ’s Royal Horticulture Society ( RHS ) is probably responsible for for a resurgence of stake in this plant as a result of their perennial yellow daisy trials . Those trial were guide between 1999 and 2001 and include 56Heleniumentries . Of those entries , 13 were awarded the RHS ’s Award of Garden Merit at the end of the trial geological period . This honour is essentially the Society ’s “ seal of approval ” that the plant life perform faithfully in the garden . amount full circle , some of those award victor finally found their way of life back to American soil and are now more widely distributed through the greenhouse trade here .
Most sources land thatHeleniumwas named in honor of Helen of Troy . Legend has it that the flora sprang from the earth wherever her binge fall . As Allan Armitage points out in his record book “ Herbaceous Perennial Plants , ” this explanation sounds a little far bring , considering the industrial plant is of North American blood line ( whereas Helen of Troy was not ) . Nevertheless , the flower is sometimes referred to as Helen ’s heyday . But it is more commonly known as Sneezeweed because of its historical consumption as a form of snuff . American Indians used the dried leave and flower of this plant to rush sneezing as a room to relieve headaches and loosen up head cold . The snuff was also allegedly used to free the body of evil spirits although there ’s no trial impression that it worked .
DESCRIPTION OF THE HELENIUM GENUS
Heleniumbelongs to a genus of about 40 herbaceous perennials , yearly , and biennial that are found mostly in North , Central , and South America . It is an upright clumping perennial wildflower that grow 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide . Some of the summary cultivar top out at around 2 foundation . An adaptable plant , it will develop in any site that has sunlight or part sunshine and wet to moist soils . Hardy in USDA zones 3 – 9 , it grows in the wild along stream banks and in wet hayfield or other wetland areas .
Bloom clock time varies by species but , in ecumenical , Heleniumblooms from late summertime into evenfall when most other perennial are done for the season . The dense clumps of narrow-minded , erose , lance - shaped leafage are crown by an abundance of daisy - similar flower school principal in hue of halcyon xanthous , burnt Orange River , and various shades of deep red . The flower petal are coiffe in a single row of ray - like petal around a raise attic - work central platter . Each petal has distinct tooth - like indentations on the edges , which give rising to another common name , dog - tooth daisy . The three lobe on the edge help distinguishHeleniumfromRudbeckiaor other yellow coneflower .
Helenium , likeSolidago(goldenrod ) , has an undeserved reputation as a cause of hay fever and fall allergy . The flowers of this metal money are pollinated by insects rather than nose and have weighed down , viscous pollen that can not be easily inhaled . It blooms at the same time as Senecio jacobaea , which is the straight culprit .
Helenium attracts a variety of pollinator to the cosmetic garden . It is peculiarly valuable in the late summertime garden as a nectar plant for bees , butterflies , moths , and beetles .
HELENIUM SPECIES
The following describes a small sample distribution of theHeleniumspecies incur in the United States .
H. autumnale – Known as vulgar sneezeweed , this specie is aboriginal to eastern North America . It typically blooms for 8 calendar week or more in late summer until frost . Of the nearly 40 metal money belong to theHeleniumgenus , H. autumnaleand its numerous hybrids have the greatest color and diversity . The native form of this plant produce bright yellow flowers , whereas its cultivars appear in various tad of yellow , orange , fuzz , and ruby-red .
H. bigelovii – This related species , commonly ring Bigelow ’s sneezeweed , is aboriginal to western North America and may be set up in the wild in Oregon , California and Arizona . It bears 2 ” wide chicken peak on plants that are 2 ’ to 3 ’ improbable .
H. flexuosum – This eastern sneezeweed species , ordinarily called violet - headed sneezeweed , is native throughout the entire eastern and mid - westerly parts of the U.S. The 1.5 ” heyday on this 1 ’ to 3 ’ plant have drooping yellow petals . It is signalize from otherHeleniumspecies by its salient purple - brown eye disks .
H. hoopesii – This sneezeweed specie is aboriginal to the westerly states of the U.S. , where it is commonly denote to as MountainHelenium , orangish sneezeweed , or bird of Minerva ’s claws . This long - blooming 28 ” to 30 ” magniloquent species grow large , 3 ” icteric flower with orangish center . It grows from a taproot , so propagation from seeds is the best feeler . MostHeleniumhybrids hold some genes fromH. hoopesii .
H. virginicum – Native to Virginia and Missouri , this rare savage peak is categorise as a threatened coinage under the Federal Government ’s Endangered Species Act of 1973 . In Virginia , it is categorise as an endangered species believed to exist in only two counties ( Augusta and Rockingham ) along the western edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Shenandoah Valley . It bears shiny yellow flowers on 2 ’ to 4 ’ magniloquent stems .
HELENIUM CULTIVARS
With rattling autumnal color ranging from golden yellowness to burn orange , copper John Brown , or mahogany Red River and variations in between , this native herbaceous perennial is certain to be a welcome addition to the late summer decorative garden . Of the cultivar listed In Allan Armitage ’s “ Herbaceous Perennial Plants ” ( Third Edition ) , ‘ Crimson Beauty ’ , ‘ Marti Gras ’ , and ‘ Wyndley ’ are perhaps best suited for smaller garden quad , in his opinion . They are some of the shortest and sturdiest of theHeleniumcultivars . The following are examples of the manyHeleniumcultivars available both in the U.S. and in Europe .
[ symple_column size=”one - half ” position=”first ” fade_in=”false ” ]
[ /symple_column ]
[ symple_column size=”one - half ” position=”last ” fade_in=”false ” ]
ethnical requirement AND MAINTENANCE OF HELENIUM SPECIES
Heleniumthrives very nicely in blazing hot Dominicus . However , it has wide - spreading , shallow roots that are happiest in moisture - retentive filth that has been amended with compost or other organic affair . Moist soil or even poorly drained soil is hunky-dory with this plant because the moisture serve keep its roots coolheaded . An accomplished plant can digest drier rise circumstance , but flower size may be smaller . Therefore , it ’s generally best to provide supplemental watering during hot , dry weather . A layer of mulch is also beneficial for keeping the root nerveless and retaining moisture in the soil .
If you do n’t have a gay internet site , no job . Heleniumcan take fond refinement but the colors may not be as safe . Reds , in particular , may not be as concentrated .
While compost is recommend for this plant , fertilizer is not . It is a tight - raise species and fertilizers can cause tall , weak stems that flop .
When the plant reach 6 to 8 inch in springtime or early summertime , pinch them back to boost strong ramification and denser maturation . They may also be squeeze back later in the growing time of year but flower meter may be delayed .
If you do not cut back the taller selections to make them shorter and sturdy , they may take to be post to keep them from founder over . This is particularly dependable if they are being grown in an exposed or long-winded site . If you screw the variety you ’re growing is prone to weak theme , it ’s wise to to stake the plant before it becomes very tall . Hot weather condition can promote tall , washy emergence .
Once the works begin to bloom , deadhead spent blossoms regularly to prolong flowering . If cut back off each blossom individually seems like too much cause , you’re able to fleece about 4 to 6 inches off the top of the plant instead . Deadheading the cultivars will also remove the possibleness of dissimilar plants sprouting up within the lump .
Cut the plant back to the ground in declination after flowering is thoroughgoing .
HELENIUM PROPAGATION
In time , Heleniumclumps will become denser with decreased flowering . To defend industrial plant vigor , dig out up the works in spring or light and divide it . The clump are easy to divide and do good from section about every 3 to 4 class .
Heleniummay also be diffuse by seed . If starting seeds indoors , seed them in spring about 8 to 10 weeks before implant them outdoors . Just barely cover them with soil and keep them moist until they sprout . Note : Seeds from cultivars will not come true to the “ parent . ” If that ’s a business , then stick with either divisions or corrupt new plants . On the other helping hand , if you like to experiment , the seed from cultivars may examine to be very interesting .
blighter AND DISEASES OF HELENIUM
Although generally pest resistive , slug and snail may damage the emerging plant life foliage in springtime . This is broadly a light - term problem and unlikely to affect the plant over the long catch .
Mildew may touch the plant , in which case , the best attack is to thin the plant back by half or two - tierce after it finishes flower . This will aid keep further mold outbreaks .
For the nurseryman plagued with cervid or lapin job , this industrial plant is unpalatable to herbivores . Do note that this industrial plant , admit its bloom , leaf , and seeds , are toxicant if ingested and can potentially make vomiting or convulsions .
USES OF HELENIUM IN THE LANDSCAPE
Heleniumis undecomposed for naturalize and generally looks best implant as a grouping or as a spate planting . It mate well with other perennials and dope including asters , Boltonia , Joe Pye Weed ( Eupatorium),Liatris , Monarda , late blooming salvias , goldenrod ( Solidago ) , tall sedum , switch grass ( Panicum virgatum ) or full-grown Andropogon furcatus ( Andropogon ) . As a general rule , it looks best found with other “ hot ” colors but it also look proficient planted near blue or purple - bloom plants . Try it in :
SUMMARY
AlthoughHeleniumis aboriginal throughout all of North America , it is not all that wide known to most gardener . That may alter count on the outcome of two esteemed plant life evaluation political program that are presently underway . Just this year , the Chicago Botanic Garden ’s Plant Evaluation Program embarked on a 4 - class comparative field of view trial of 39Heleniumspecies and cultivars . A report of their findings and recommendations of top performers to gardener and the gardening industry will presumably become useable at the end of the study in 2021 . Coincidentally , the Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware also lead off aHeleniumfield run this twelvemonth . According to their website , their 3 - year trial of 43 selections will focus on the horticultural feature of “ sturdiness , bloom clock time , bloom quantity , and electrical resistance to disease like powdery mildew and rust . ” In gain , the study will valuate the bionomical value of this plant to pollinator . The answer of their tribulation will be released in 2019 . If you do n’t want to wait for the solution of these flora trials , try growing one or two Helenium species or cultivars now . You wo n’t be disappointed .
RESOURCES
Herbaceous Perennial Plants , A Treatise on their designation , Culture , and Garden Attributes , Third Edition(Armitage , Allan M. , 2008 )
Perennial Combinations ( Burrell , C. Colston , 2008 )
The Well - Tended Perennial Garden(DiSabato - Aust , Tracy , 2006 )
Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Evaluation Program ( chicagobotanic.org/research )
Mt. Cuba Center Field Trials onHelenium(mtcubacenter.org / tribulation / helenium )
Piedmont Virginia Native Plant Database ( www.albemarle.org/NativePlants )
“ Virginia Sneezeweed ( Helenium virginicum ) , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ’s Environmental Conservation Online System Species Profile ( ecos.fws.gov )
“ Virginia Sneezeweed , ” Virginia Natural Heritage Resources Fact Sheet ( dcr.virginia.gov )
