Helenium
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hel-EN-ee-um
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Helenium is a genus of annuals and herbaceous perennials having yellow or orange-to-red daisy-like flowers. The genus is named after Helen of Troy.
Potential problems: powdery mildew, leaf spot, and rust. In high wind or heavy rain, the stalks may need support.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Helbro’ Mardis Gras®
- Helenium 'Carnival'
Petals roll up showing orange underside - Helenium 'Ruby Tuesday'
Dark red with yellow center
- ‘Helbro’ Mardis Gras®
- ‘Helbro’ Mardis Gras®, Helenium 'Carnival', Helenium 'Ruby Tuesday'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Helbro’ Mardis Gras®
- Helenium 'Carnival'
Petals roll up showing orange underside - Helenium 'Ruby Tuesday'
Dark red with yellow center
- ‘Helbro’ Mardis Gras®
- ‘Helbro’ Mardis Gras®, Helenium 'Carnival', Helenium 'Ruby Tuesday'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Helenium
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Powdered leaves and flower heads were used in the treatment of colds and congestion by inducing sneezing. Indians used an infusion of the leaves as a laxative.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- USA
- Distribution:
- Eastern US and Canada, Midwest and Gulf States
- Wildlife Value:
- Food plant of butterfly larvae
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Wheel
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Yellow, in convex heads with 3-lobed ray flowers.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, glandular-dotted
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Salivation, elevated temperature and pulse, vomiting, convulsions, and difficulty in breathing,
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Sesquiterpene lactone
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems