Sneezeweed

Helenium Chelsey

• Position: full sun
• Soil: fertile, moist but well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: June to August
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Disc-shaped, daisy-like, crimson flowers marked with splashes of bright yellow appear from July to August. This is a stunning variety of sneezeweed that provides endless intrigue in the summer with its ever-changing bicoloured flowers. It's ideal for the middle of a sunny, well-drained border where it makes a wonderful companion for ornamental grasses and yellow, white or earth-toned flowers. Bees and butterflies love them.

• Garden care: Heleniums are versatile plants that love plenty of sunshine and moist soil. They rarely suffer from pests or diseases, however young plants do need to be protected from slug attack. Tall varieties need to be staked. To encourage the plant to repeat flower deadhead back to side shoots that have flower buds emerging. Cut back by half after flowering to help prevent mildew. Cut down to the ground in late winter. Every two to three years divide the plants in spring to keep them in top condition. When replanting add loads of well-rotted organic matter to the soil to feed them and keep them moist.

  
  A donation of 50p from each Helenium 'Chelsey' plant sold is made to The British Red Cross Disaster Fund, in memory of ITN journalist Terry Lloyd.