Helenium: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Powdered leaves and flower heads were used in the treatment of colds and congestion by inducing sneezing. Indians used an infusion of the leaves as a laxative.
Plant Profile: Helenium
Taxonomy: HeleniumNames
Sneezeweed
Phonetic Spelling:hel-EN-ee-um
Genus:Helenium
Species:
Family:Asteraceae
Helenium is a group of flowering plants that includes both annuals and herbaceous perennials, characterized by their vibrant daisy-like blooms in shades of yellow or orange to red. The name of this genus pays homage to Helen of Troy.
However, there are some potential issues to be aware of, such as powdery mildew, leaf spot, and rust. Additionally, during strong winds or heavy rainfall, the stems may require additional support.
Tags
#yellow
#poisonous
#weedy
#riparian
#cottage garden
#wetlands
#stream banks
#pastures
#thickets
#native garden
#wildflower garden
#butterfly friendly
#HS302
#bog gardens
Similar Plants
Helenium Feature Summary
Attributes
Powdered leaves and flower heads were used in the treatment of colds and congestion by inducing sneezing. Indians used an infusion of the leaves as a laxative.
Eastern US and Canada, Midwest and Gulf States
Food plant of butterfly larvae
Perennial
Annual
Seed
Division
Flowers
Yellow, in convex heads with 3-lobed ray flowers.
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Summer
Fall
7 - 20 petals/rays
Wheel
1-3 inches
Leaves
Alternate, simple, glandular-dotted
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Alternate
Lanceolate
Poisonous to Humans
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Salivation, elevated temperature and pulse, vomiting, convulsions, and difficulty in breathing,
Sesquiterpene lactone
Medium
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Flowers
Whole Plant Traits
Annual
Herbaceous Perennial
Native Plant
Poisonous
Wildflower
Deciduous
Multi-stemmed
Erect
Clumping
Medium
Low
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
9a
9b
High Organic Matter
Stem
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Cottage Garden
Native Garden
Mass Planting
Wet Soil
Naturalized Area
Slope/Bank
Riparian
Butterflies
Bees
Poisonous to Humans
Weedy
Helenium Image Gallery
Helenium Attributes
Helenium: Country Or Region Of Origin
USA
Helenium: Distribution
Eastern US and Canada, Midwest and Gulf States
Helenium: Wildlife Value
Food plant of butterfly larvae
Helenium: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Helenium: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Helenium Flowers
Helenium: Flower Description
Yellow, in convex heads with 3-lobed ray flowers.
Helenium: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Helenium: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Helenium: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Helenium: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Helenium: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Helenium: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Helenium Leaves
Helenium: Leaf Description
Alternate, simple, glandular-dotted
Helenium: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Helenium: Leaf Color
Green
Helenium: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Helenium: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Helenium: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Helenium: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Helenium Poisonous to Humans
Helenium: Poison Symptoms
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Salivation, elevated temperature and pulse, vomiting, convulsions, and difficulty in breathing,
Helenium: Poison Toxic Principle
Sesquiterpene lactone
Helenium: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Helenium: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Helenium: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Helenium Whole Plant Traits
Helenium: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Helenium: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Helenium: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Helenium: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Helenium: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Helenium Cultural Conditions
Helenium: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Helenium: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Helenium: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Helenium: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Helenium: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Helenium Stem
Helenium: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Helenium Landscape
Helenium: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Helenium: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Helenium: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Helenium: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Helenium: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Helenium: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
