Helenium varieties: the most beautiful sneezeweed varieties
With their warming tones from yellow to orange and even red, sneezeweeds are perfect for adding some late summer colour. Read on to discover some of the best helenium varieties for your garden.
As a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae), it is no surprise that heleniums (Helenium sp.), or sneezeweeds as they are also known, like to grow in full sun. Flowering from midsummer until early autumn, perennial heleniums are robust, easy to care for and great for extending the flowering season. Here is a selection of helenium varieties in a range of sizes and colours for you to choose from.
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Helenium autumnale
Growing from 50 to 170cm tall and 60cm wide, Helenium autumnale produces a mass of bright yellow flowers with a brown centre. Also known as common sneezeweed, its cheery daisy-like flowers are loved by pollinators and are a great late source of nectar.
Helenium hoopesii
With narrower petals than others, Helenium hoopesi displays orange-yellow flowers on top of its grey-green foliage. It grows to around 90cm tall, and generally flowers from May until September.
Helenium bigelovii ‘The Bishop’
With its golden yellow petals, ‘The Bishop‘ is like a ray of sunshine in the borders. It has an upright habit, can grow to 70cm tall by 60cm wide, and blooms from June until August.
Helenium hybrid varieties
Originating from parts of Central and North America, heleniums were introduced to Europe in the early 18th century. Since then, several helenium hybrids have been bred in a wide range of colours and sizes, most notably by Karl Foerster in the mid-1900s.
Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’
Deservedly one of the most popular heleniums, ‘Moerheim Beauty‘ delights with its copper-red flowers with dark centres that bloom from July to August. Growing to 90 to 100cm tall on strong stems, helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ is a tried and trusted favourite. Awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Award of Garden Merit.
Helenium ‘Sahin’s Early Flowerer’
Another recipient of the RHS’s Award of Garden Merit, ‘Sahin’s Early Flowerer’ is as its name suggests one of the first to bloom in mid-summer. Producing yellow, orange and red-hued petals that contrast against its dark centres, it is ideal for adding an injection of colour into the garden. This helenium variety grows to 100cm tall by 40cm wide and blooms from June until September.
Helenium ‘Ruby Tuesday’
Growing to around 70cm high and 40cm wide, this helenium variety is compact and suitable for containers or the front of a border. Although smaller than others, ‘Ruby Tuesday’ packs a powerful punch with its deep red flowers and dark centres. Flowers from late-June to September.
Helenium ‘Mardi Gras’
Blooming nonstop from July until September, ‘Mardi Gras‘ celebrates with yellow, orange and red petals that contrast against dark brown centres. Reaches 75cm high by 60cm wide.
Helenium ‘Waltraut’
‘Waltkraut’ is a taller helenium variety that is perhaps better suited to the middle or back of the borders. Helenium ‘Waltraut’ displays an abundance of copper-orange and yellow flowers from July until August. RHS Award of Garden Merit. Reaches a height of 100cm, though can grow taller, and 70cm in width.
Helenium ‘Rubinzwerg’
Known for its more compact habit, ‘Rubinzwerg’, otherwise known as ‘Ruby Dwarf‘, develops a dense clump of mahogany-red blooms. This helenium variety grows from 80 to 100cm tall by 60cm wide and flowers from July to September. Also awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Helenium ‘Wyndley’
Yellow petals flecked with orange and red adorn helenium ‘Wyndley’ from June until August. Smaller than most helenium varieties at just 70cm tall by 45cm wide.
