Helenium autumnale 'Wyndley' (Sneezeweed / Autumn Coneflower)

I love having gardens that are seasonal. In autumn we plant trees for their autumn colour but we forget to coordinate our flowers.

Heleniums will bring warm colour to your garden from mid-summer into autumn. The daisy-like flowers resemble coneflowers, blanket flowers, and black-eyed Susan flowers. They are 5cm in diameter, with wedge-shaped bright yellow rays and dome-like, protruding center disks that are dull in color. The flowers have no particular fragrance.

These are sun-loving perennials that are tough, hardy and easy to grow. They combine particularly well with grasses and other late-flowering perennials in prairie-style plantings. Such a delightful sight in autumn gardens.

Heleniums are native to the United States and southern Canada. They grows in moist, low-lying meadows or at the edges of damp woodlands. They flower in every conceivable shade of gold, orange, red, and brown.

The plants are characterized by lance-shaped foliage with stiff, upright stems. Some taller cultivars need staking. Grow these plants in a location with full sun and well-drained, moist, acidic soil. Helenium flowers will get leggy if they don’t receive at least six hours of sun each day, but they will accept some afternoon shade, especially if the planting area tends to be dry.

Space plants 1m apart to ensure good airflow. Helenium plants tolerate humidity and hot summers, but proper spacing is important to prevent fungal diseases like mildew and rust where humidity is high. Keep the soil moist and water as needed. Pinch plants in the spring to encourage branching. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous bloom.

Helenium plants tend to look ragged and unhealthy after about three years, so dividing and replanting at this time will keep your plants looking fresh. I also make sure to sprinkle seeds at the base of the plant each year.

Helenium 'Wyndley' is one of the shortest varieties, and one of the earliest to bloom. Flowers are borne on stiff sturdy stems, and come in a warm yellow, with a lovely darker central head. It makes an excellent cut flower. Height 90cm.

Heleniums are excellent cut flowers with a long vase life.

Sow seeds during autumn or spring after a period of 6 weeks in the fridge. Place seeds in a zip lock bag to keep them dry and place in the fridge. I recommend sowing seeds into pots due to the small size of the seeds but you can also direct sow the seeds. Sprinkle seeds on top of the soil and water. Do not bury the seeds and don't over sow the pots. Keep seeds damp but not wet. Seeds will germinate when temperatures are around 20C. You can use a heat mat. Grow plants to around 10cm in height, harden off and plant out. You may need to prick out seedlings.

Seeds currently available.

$5.00 - 1/4 teaspoon open pollinated seeds

$4.00 - postage within Australia

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