Helenium autumnale
| Common Sneezeweed | ||||||||||||||||
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| Helenium autumnale L. |
Common sneezeweed, Helenium autumnale, is a flowering plant native to North America. Other common names include Helen's flower, bitterweed, and false sunflower.
Natural habitat and distribution
This plant is found throughout the contiguous mainland United States.
Appearance
Common Sneezeweed grows 1 to 5 feet tall. In late summer and fall, it bears daisylike flowers with notched, recurved petals. Most species have golden-yellow flowers, but garden cultivars exist in many shades.
Cultivation
Common Sneezeweed is cultivated as a garden perennial. There are mutiple named varieties varying in color and height. "Pumilum Magnificum" is a yellow variety about two feet tall. "Bruno," a reddish brown cultivar, "Copper Spray," which is orange, and "Butterpat," which is golden, all grow 3 to 3 1/2 feet tall. "Chippersfield Orange" is 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall and is gold.
References
- Crockett, James U. (1972), Perennials (2 ed.), New York: Time-Life Books
- Peterson, Roger T. & McKenny, Margaret (1968), A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North-Central North America (9 ed.), Boston: Houghton Mifflin
- USDA, PLANTS profile for Helenium autumnale (common sneezeweed), <http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HEAU>. Retrieved on 8 May 2007
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Helenium autumnale". Image Credit.
