Practical
Plants

Helenium autumnale

Sneezeweed

a perennial member of the Helenium genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.8 m
Spread
0.5 m
Fertility
Bees, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is poisonous to ruminants[7]. Contact with the plant might cause dermatitis in sensitive people[7].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The dried nearly mature flower heads are used in a powdered form as a snuff to treat colds and headaches[6][7][9]. When made into a tea they are used in the treatment of intestinal worms[7]. The powdered leaves are sternutatory[7][9]. An infusion of the leaves is laxative and alterative[6]. An infusion of the stems has been used as a wash in the treatment of fevers[9]. The plant contains helenalin, a compound that has shown significant anti-tumour activity[7].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Sternutatory

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant contains helenalin, a compound that has insecticidal properties, though it is also toxic to fish and worms[7].

Product or use
Insecticide

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Quebec to Florida, west to Manitoba and Arizona.
Habitat
Wet meadows and marshes[4]. Rich thickets, meadows and shores[12]. Low, moist calcareous soils in Texas[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. If you have sufficient seed it might be worthwhile trying a sowing in mid to late spring in situ outdoors[3]. Cuttings of soft wood from the base of the plant, June/July in a frame. Basal cuttings in spring[5]. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn[3]. This needs to be done fairly regularly because the clumps soon become congested[8]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Grows well in ordinary garden soil[1][3], succeeding in most conditions other than boggy soils[8]. It prefers a fertile moisture retentive soil[5] in a sunny position[2][3]. Dislikes dry soil[5]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[8]. A good bee and butterfly plant[11]. A very ornamental plant[1], some named forms have been selected for their ornamental value[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

    ↩

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  7. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  8. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  11. Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x

    ↩

  12. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

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