Helenium autumnale (Sneezeweed)

One of the last native wildflowers to bloom each year, sneezeweed's undeserved reputation for causing hayfever is a myth - its heavy, sticky pollen is insect-distributed, not wind-borne - and it's a confirmed larval host for the Dainty Sulphur butterfly.

Species Overview

Helenium autumnale is a herbaceous perennial native to North America, thriving in moist meadows, wetlands, and along streambanks. It grows 3-5 feet tall and produces a profusion of bright yellow, daisy-like flowers with dome-shaped centers from late summer into early fall. The blooms attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

Application

• Wetland restoration - tolerates wet soils and seasonal flooding
• Rain gardens, wet meadows, and riparian buffers
• Late-season pollinator habitat, with special value to native bees
• Soil stabilization in erosion-prone, moisture-retentive areas

Growing Conditions / Specification Data

• Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil/Moisture Tolerance: Moist clay soils; requires a damp site, tolerates any conditions aside from very dry or very wet
• Plant Type: Forb
• Mature Height: 2-4 ft.
• Fall Color: Insignificant/None
• Bloom Color / Period: Yellow; July-October
• Wetland Indicator Status: FACW (Facultative Wetland)
• Native Range: Eastern North America (widespread across the US and most Canadian provinces)
• Hydrology: Moist-Wet
• Root Depth: Shallow (Under 12 in.)
• Salinity Tolerance: Low
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Drought Tolerance: Low
• Flood Tolerance: Moderate - A moist meadow and wetland-margin species tolerant of periodically wet soil.
• Shade Tolerance: Intermediate
• Growth Habit: Upright, Clumping/Mounding
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
• Deer Resistance: Yes (Rarely Damaged)
• Pollinator Value: Larval host, supports bees

Planting Guidance

• Cut back in early summer to encourage branching and increase flower count; avoid heavy fertilization, which can cause weak stems.