Sneezeweed is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It is native to eastern and north central North America where it grows in moist to wet openings, edges, shores, thickets, swamps, and wetlands. Plants grow 3-5′ tall from a shallow fibrous root system, and have stout greenish stems that branch at the top and are heavily winged. The alternate, ovate to lanceolate leaves are stalkless, toothed and 2-6″ long. From late summer into early fall 2″ wide flowerheads appear in leafy cymes. The flowerheads are composed of a flat to globe-shaped center of dull yellow disc florets surrounded by yellow wedge-shaped ray florets that are reflexed and three notched at the tip. The flowers are attractive to butterflies and other pollinators and are good cut flowers. The leaves, flowers, and seeds are poisonous to humans and livestock. Many cultivars are available and the species is rarely grown except in wildflower, native plant, prairie, or meadow gardens. The genus name, Helenium, honors the ancient Greek character Helen of Troy whose tears are said to have given rise to the plants. The specific epithet, autumnale, is the Latin word meaning pertaining to autumn and refers to the plants’ bloom time. The common name, sneezeweed, comes from the fact that the disc flowers and leaves were dried and used as snuff
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Flowerheads with yellow ray florets and dull yellow disc florets from late summer to early fall
Size: 2-5′ H x 2-3′ W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average, moist, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Care: Cut back in early summer to encourage branching and increase flowers; divide every 2-3 years; may need staking.
Pests and Diseases: Powdery mildrew, leaf spot, rust
Propagation: Division, seed
Companion Plants: New England aster, maiden grass, Joe Pye weed
Outstanding Selections:
‘Brilliant’ (red and bronze flowerheads; 2-4′ tall
‘Bruno’ (bronze-red flowerheads; 3-4′ tall)
‘Butterpat’ (all yellow flowerheads, 3′ tall, long blooming)
‘Copper Spray’ (coppery red flowerheadss)
‘Gartensonne’ (yellow flowerheads, 4-5′ tall)
‘Moerheim Beauty’ (brownish red flowerheads fading to burnt orange; 3′ tall)
‘Riverton Beauty’ (yellow flowerheads with purplish brown center; 4-5′ tall)
‘Riverton Gem’ (mahbany brown flowerheads; 4′ tall)
‘Rubrum’ (2-3″ wide mahogany flowerheads; 6′ tall)
‘The Bishop’ (yellow flowerheads; 2-2.5′ tall)
‘Waldtraud’ (large tawny orange flowerheads)
‘Wyndley’ (coppery brown flowerheads; 2-3′ tall)
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Karen Meyers