This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.

• 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. It is a super plant which has been awarded the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.
  
  
• 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, and cut down to the ground in late winter. Every two or three years in the spring when the new growth is surging away you can divide the plants to keep them in top condition. Ideally the new growth should be about 7cm high. Either replant them straight into the ground with loads of well-rotted organic matter to feed them and keep them moist, or plant them into pots, but do make sure they are kept watered.