An Early Fall Garden Essential: Helenium
When you think of a fall garden, it’s likely the classic autumn staples come to mind: mums, pansies, and maple trees are often at the top of the list. However, there is a glaring underdog in the world of fall perennials that we think should move to the top of your list. New to our perennial offerings this season, Helenium or ‘Sneezeweed,’ is a can’t-miss fall bloomer.
In this blog, we will highlight the key benefits of Helenium, discuss our two new varieties, and offer a few ideas for planting.
Why We Love Helenium Plants
Ecosystem Perks
Here at Garden Goods Direct, while our primary focus is growing beautiful plants to share with the world, our hearts are really in it for the pure benefit of the environmental world around us. We love Helenium because it is a North American Native plant naturally adapted to our local climates. This fiery perennial is an eco-conscious choice that works to attract and support local pollinators and provide a late-season source of sustenance to songbirds. Finally, sneezeweed benefits the environment through its fibrous root systems, which improve soil structure and help combat erosion.
Hardy To The Elements
Helenium not only supports our ecosystem, but it also withstands it when things get tough! Helenium boasts toxic and bitter foliage that makes it highly resistant to deer and rabbits. Additionally, this soldier of a perennial tolerates a range of soil types and is resistant to many common plant diseases. If you are looking for a plant that will withstand the tests of time…look no further.
Extended Bloom Times & Versatile Use
As if this gorgeous bloomer couldn’t get any better…Heleniums are praised for their extended bloom times with colorful flowers spanning from midsummer through to the first frost of fall! This gorgeous perennial extends your garden’s display and provides striking interest when many other perennials have passed their prime. Due to their long-lasting blooms and hardy nature, they are an extremely versatile option when it comes to fall landscaping! Keep reading below to learn more about the many ways you can incorporate Sneezeweed plants into your garden.
Our Helenium Varieties
Helenium Mariachi Salsa
Extend your summer garden beauty well into the fall when you ignite the flame that is the Helenium Mariachi Salsa plant. This jaw-dropping orange to red bloomer is loved for its vibrant hues, compact size, and attractiveness to pollinators. The sturdy stems on this burnt orange bloomer are well-loved, as they make it an excellent option for cut bouquets in the fall.
Helenium Sombrero
For a touch of honey-golden warmth to light up your home's beds and borders, look no further than Helnium Sombrero.
This long-blooming, brightly colored perennial is deer-resistant and a crucial source of food for pollinators late into the season. In addition to the bright yellow blooms, you can enjoy this plant for its low-maintenance and high-reward nature. While preferring consistent moisture, this mounding perennial can also tolerate short periods of drought, adding to its appeal and easy-to-care-for nature.
Ways To Use Helenium In The Landscape
1. Perennial Borders
Heleniums make vibrant additions to perennial borders, especially in late season. They offer warm tones that pair beautifully with cool-hued plants like asters and Russian sage. Taller varieties add vertical interest when placed at the back, while compact types work well in the front or middle. To keep plants healthy and upright, techniques like the “Chelsea chop” encourage sturdier, bushier growth.
2. Prairie or Meadow Garden
Helenium is well-suited for prairie or meadow gardens, where its native origins shine in naturalized, informal plantings. Planting in drifts alongside grasses like switch grass and big bluestem creates a sweeping prairie look while supporting pollinators such as bees and butterflies, boosting overall biodiversity.
3. Rain Gardens
Helenium thrives in moist-to-wet soils, making it an excellent choice for rain gardens, bioretention areas, and other water-wise landscapes. It can be planted in low-lying areas or near downspouts where water collects, and unlike many plants, it tolerates consistently wet conditions.
Shop Fall Perennials Online Today
If you’re tired of the same old fall plants you see lining porches and fencelines year after year every fall, it might be time to switch it up. Whether with our new collection of Helenium perennial plants or with another vibrant fall bloomer, here at Garden Goods Direct, we have a wide range of unconventional planting options to make your garden stand out against the crowd. Shop our variety of fall interest plants online today!