Helenium autumnale - Sneezeweed

Morphology/Growth Habits: Daisy-like flower with wedged, drooping rays and a vibrant yellow color. Lanceolate, dark green foliage. Upright and clumping form. Plants can be cut back to reduce the height and encourage branching which will give the plant a greater bloom. Removing spent flowers will also encourage bloom.

Height: 3-5 ft.

Light: Full Sun

Moisture: Medium-Wet

Bloom color: Yellow

Bloom time: Aug-Oct

Habitat/Best Environments: Typically found growing along streams, ponds, and wet meadows. Easy to grow in medium to wet soils in full sun, intolerant of dry soils. Grows best in rich, moist soils. 

Ecological relationships: Flowers attract many pollinators, including butterflies! Host plant to Dainty Sulphur butterfly. *Used to make snuff, which is inhaled to cause sneezing, hence the common name! Does not contribute to seasonal allergies as their pollen is distributed by insects, not the wind. 

*Please soil test and do proper research before growing a plant for human consumption.