Helen's Flower Helenium autumnale
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hel-EH-nee-um aw-tum-NAH-lay
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Common sneezeweed can be found throughout the United States in moist soils along streams, ponds, in swamps, and wetlands. Sneezeweed can be cultivated in average to rich soils, needing moist to wet conditions. It should be cut back in early summer to encourage branching and increase flowers. Cultivars are much showier than the weedy native sneezeweed.
The common name of Sneezeweed is based on historic use of the crushed dried leaves and heads to make a form of snuff that caused sneezing.
Common sneezeweed leaves, flowers, and seeds are poisonous to humans if eaten in large quantities, causing gastric and intestinal irritation, which can become fatal. The chemicals in sneezeweed can poison livestock, particularly sheep and cattle..
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Butterpat
- Helena Red Shades
- Moerheim Beauty
- Riverton Beauty
- Butterpat
- Butterpat, Helena Red Shades, Moerheim Beauty, Riverton Beauty
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Butterpat
- Helena Red Shades
- Moerheim Beauty
- Riverton Beauty
- Butterpat
- Butterpat, Helena Red Shades, Moerheim Beauty, Riverton Beauty
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Helenium
- Species:
- autumnale
- 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.d
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- Eastern US and Canada, Midwest and Gulf Coast
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Displays from October to November
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Wheel
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- flattened or ball-shaped flower heads with bright yellow wedge-shaped rays which are 3-lobed at the outer end, drooping away from the center ball.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- stalkless, usually toothed, 2-5 in. long; wing-angled stems; branches toward the summit
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Salivation, elevated temperature and pulse, difficulty of breathing, vomiting, and convulsions. TOXIC ONLY IF INGESTED IN LARGE QUANTITIES.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Sesquiterpene lactone
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Seeds
