Sneezeweed

Helenium Moerheim Beauty

• Position: full sun
• Soil: fertile, moist but well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: June to August
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  A succession of dark copper-red daisy-like flowers up to 8cm (3in) across with prominent, dark brown centres from June to August. This beautiful sneezeweed is ideal towards the back of a sunny, moist but well-drained border. It makes a wonderful companion for ornamental grasses and yellow, white or earth-toned flowers. Bees and butterflies love it and it makes an excellent cut flower too.

• 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 or 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.