Helenium autumnale

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Common Sneezeweed

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Helenieae
Genus: Helenium
Species: H. autumnale
Binomial name
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.

Contents

[edit] Natural habitat and distribution

This plant is found throughout the contiguous mainland United States.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] References

  • Peterson, Roger T. & McKenny, Margaret (1968), A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North-Central North America (9 ed.), Boston: Houghton Mifflin