Helenium autumnale “TS Giant” (“TS Giant” Fall Sneeze Weed)

Description

Fall Blooming, Clump Forming Native Perennial. Covered with yellow flowers in fall. Attracts a Wide Variety of Insect Visitors,including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, and beetles. Birds eat the seeds and hunt for insects on the plants. The foliage is bitter and is generally avoided by deer. It is used medicinally to treat colds and other ailments. . It is native in all 48 contiguous states as well as several Canadian Provinces. Plant in full sun to light shade in average to wet soil. We propagated our plants from Native Populations in SC.

What is called Helenium autumnale is highly variable. According to Dr. Weakley, there are likely various species lumped under this name, that will one day be separated into separate species. We found this one in a Tidal Swamp in Colleton Co., SC, where it is exposed to extreme fluctuations in water level. It grows over 6′ tall. Its leaves are over 6″ long and its flowers are also very large.