Common name: Helen's Flower, Sneezeweed
Family: Asteraceae, Aster
Height x width: 3-6' x 3'
Growth rate: moderate
Foliage: alternate, lanceolate to elliptic to 6" long, usually serrate, nearly glabrous, create a winged effect from base clasping and running down stem (decurrent)
Flowers: early fall, yellow or reds or orange shades, to 2" wide, daisy-like in many-flowered corymbs
Hardiness: zones 3-8
Soil: moist, well-drained
Light: sun
Pests and Problems: leaf spots, rusts, smut, powdery mildew (none serious usually)
Landscape habit, uses: borders, cut flowers, bees
Other interest: erroneously called sneezeweed sometimes since blooms at same time as ragweed which is the true culprit; mostly common name derives from use of dried leaves by Native Americans and settlers for snuff to cause sneezing (to drive away evil spirits); native to eastern and south central U.S.; named after Helen of Troy; poisonous if ingested--flowers, seeds, leaves contain sesquiterpene lactone which can cause vomiting and convulsions in worst cases.
Other culture: smaller flowers if high night temperatures; best flowering with ample soil moisture; most cultivars require staking; may need dividing every third year; in south cut back stems 1/3 after flowering; fertilize lightly to avoid spindly growth
Propagation: seeds (not for cultivars), division
Species:
autumnale (au-tum-nal' ee)--Common Sneezeweed, native to eastern N. America
bigelovii (bi-ge-lo' vee-ii)--Western Sneezeweed, native to western N. America
hoopesii (hoo-pees' ee-ii)--Western Sneezeweed, stem leaves
are not decurrent, native to western N. America
Cultivars: (usually listed of autumnale, but many likely hybrids of several species)
The following are the most common in U.S. commerce.
| Cultivar | flowers | height |
| 'Butterpat' | yellow | 4-5' |
| 'Coppelia' (PP, COPF)* | coppery organge (sturdy stems) | 3' |
| 'Crimson Beauty' | mahogany brown rays, dull brown center | 2-3' |
| 'Dark Beauty' | bright red, white ray bases | 6' |
| 'Dunkle Pracht':'Dark Beauty' | ||
| 'Kugelsonne' | butter yellow | 3-4' |
| 'Mardi Gras' (PP, COPF)* | yellow with orange red, summer | 3-4' |
| 'Moerheim Beauty' | brownish red rays, black center | 3-4' |
| 'Pumilum Magnificum' | soft yellow | 4-5' |
| 'Red and Gold' | red and gold | 3-4' |
| 'Riverton Beauty' | golden yellow rays, bronze center | 3-4' |
| 'Rotgold':'Red and Gold' | ||
| 'Sun Ball/Sphere':'Kugelsonne' | ||
| 'The Bishop' | deep yellow | 3' |
| 'Waltraut' | golden brown | 3' |
| 'Wyndley' | coppery brown | 2-3' |
| 'Zimbelstern' | yellow rays, red and yellow bicolor center | 3-4' |
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