Known to be toxic - Toxic to mammals if ingested.
Plant Names
Helenium autumnale
Sneezeweed
Hélénie automnale
Synonyms
fall sneezeweed
mountain sneezeweed
swamp sunflower
hélénie d'automne
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Yellow
Bloom Period: Aug - Oct
Max Height: 4.0 feet
Max Width: 2.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates medium soil condition
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for wetland garden
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Suitable for wetland garden
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Ecological Benefits:
Butterfly host
Butterfly host
Tolerates:
Tolerates salt conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Tolerates salt conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Special Features and Considerations:
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Atlantic Maritime
- Boreal Plains
- Boreal Shield
- Pacific Maritime
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Helenium autumnale
-
Nathalis iole
Dainty Sulphur
Specialized Bees Supported by Helenium autumnale
No bee data available for this plant.
Complementary Plants
- Glyceria canadensis
Canada Mannagrass
Glycérie du Canada - Hibiscus moscheutos
Swamp Rose-mallow
Ketmie des marais - Impatiens capensis
Spotted Jewelweed
Impatiente du Cap - Lobelia siphilitica
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobélie bleue - Physostegia virginiana
Obedient Plant
Physostégie de Virginie
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy)
- Gerbera (Gerbera Daisy)
- NA (Non-native False Sunflower)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Surface sow
- Sow anytime
- Stratification duration: 0 days
- Self-seeding
- Notes: Can be sown in late spring in warm soil
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: September
- Harvesting indicator:
- Seeds easily fall off when you gently pull them off
- Harvesting:
- Shake seed head in paper bag
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
- Remove non-seed material
- Harvesting video: Watch here
Toxicity Notes
Toxic to mammals if ingested.