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Asteraceae
Sneezeweed
Helenium autumnale
Tears and healing.
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Helenium
- Native to
- North America
- Bloom season
- Summer, Fall
- Type
- perennial herb
- Height
- 3-5 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- moist, fertile, clay tolerant
- Water
- moderate to high
- Hardiness
- 3-8
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Despite its common name 'sneezeweed,' it does not cause sneezing; the name comes from dried leaves once used as snuff.
- The genus is named after Helen of Troy, from whose tears the plants were said to have sprung.
- Native Americans dried and powdered the flower heads to use as snuff for clearing sinuses during colds.
- The distinctive raised central cone of the flower provides a landing pad for pollinating bees and butterflies.
- It is one of the most important late-season nectar sources for monarch butterflies during their fall migration.
Color meanings
0
tears
1
healing
2
autumn warmth