Virginia ecotype
Duration: Perennial Habit: Upright, clump-forming, naturalizing
Size: Typically 3 to 5 feet tall; about 1.5 to 2.5 feet wide
Flowering Time: August to October
Bloom Color: Bright yellow with domed yellow to orange central disks
Habitat: Moist meadows, streambanks, pond edges, marshes, and ditches
Moisture: Moist to wet; tolerates seasonal flooding
Light: Full sun to part sun
Soils: Loamy or clay soils; prefers rich, moist conditions but tolerates varied soils
Uses: Pollinator gardens, rain gardens, meadow and wetland restoration, cut flower gardens, late-season bloom support
Helenium autumnale (Common sneezeweed)
Helenium autumnale, often called common sneezeweed or autumn sneezeweed, is a moist / wetland species that turns streambanks and marsh edges into a sea of golden yellow when it blooms late in the season. The flowers have a distinctive button-like appearance, with notable round disks.
Despite its name, the plant does not trigger allergic sneezing; the name comes from the historical use of its dried leaves in powdered snuff to induce sneezing. This plant thrives in consistently moist soils and can grow 3 to 5 feet tall, forming dense, upright clumps that add structure and late-season color to wetland edges, rain gardens, and moist pollinator gardens. Because of its upright habit and long blooming period, it is also suitable for cut flower use and for adding vertical interest to native garden beds.
Ecologically, Helenium support a wide variety of native pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and syrphid flies. It is especially valuable for providing nectar and pollen during the late season, when fewer native plants are in bloom. Additionally, Helenium support several specialist bees.
Deer and rabbits tend to avoid Helenium, making it a resilient option in landscapes with browsing pressure.