Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Plant of the Month-August 2008

There are many choices of good plants blooming in the garden this month, but none can be more favorited than Helen's Flower, aka Helenium autumnale. This is one little stalwart, easy to grow, lovely, long blooming flower that shines at a time most all other flowers are starting to wane.


I have grown this flower for about five years now. It first came to me attention when I was looking for a perennial flower which liked wet areas. There were exactly two which the fit the bill for me, this helenium and Queen of the Prairie. The Queen of the Prairie was not an option as I could not find it easily. Helenium it had to be. I am so glad! You just cannot go wrong with this plant!

It bloomed its heart out the very first year I grew it. Since then it has been moved all around the garden but never misses a stride. It needs some moisture (I rarely water it), well drained soil in full sun to partial sun. It will grow to about 3 feet tall by 2 feet wide. It is very easy to start from cuttings and is never ever a thug. It comes in a variety of colors, yellow being just one of them. I have also seen it in rusts and oranges and in a bi-color mix of colors.

One peculiar quirk of this flower is the droopy buds prior to it blooming. Can you see the droopy buds on the picture above? This is perfectly normal and does not mean the flower needs water. Once it blooms the flowers perk up. It will bloom for more than a month in my garden and is a must have perennial and also my choice for August's Plant of the Month.

By the way, all flowers in these pictures were started from cuttings last summer, these are one year old plants, but pretty big plants standing at 3 feet high! Helenium are very easy to start from cuttings. See Dave's propagation methods at The Home Garden for more information on cuttings. I will at some point post on it, but haven't yet.

in the garden....

20 comments:

  1. What a great flower to take us into the fall. I love yellow in the garden. I'll have to think about Helen's flower, because I do have a wet area in my garden. Beautiful photos Tina!

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  2. Thanks PG, You will love this flower in your garden once you plant it. You can't go wrong at all. Not necessarily a wet area, regular soil but it tolerates more moisture than most. ttyl

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  3. It's a pretty flower...my guess is that it needs more moisture then I can find!

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  4. It is a nice looking flower! Thanks for the link. :)

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  5. So THAT is what that flower is - I have one in my backyard but lost the tag and couldn't remember what it was! Thanks for IDing it for me!

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  6. I want yellow, have to remember this one and keep a look out. I've seen the real tall yellow flowers around town, someone said it was artichoke. Rain today and all week.

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  7. Hi Tina, that is a wonderful plant, I agree. I didn't know it liked moisture though, it is in the driest part of my garden in dusty full blazing sun, with the eryngiums, so anyone thinking it needs wet, Gail, can still grow it in the dry. I love it most of all because my mother's name was Helen, and this is Helen's flower. Mine is called Mardi Gras and is a red, rust, yellow mix, each flower is different. I bought two last year at Lowe's and have never seen them again except this variety in catalogs. I will buy any one I see from now on, it has been blooming all summer. It was deadheaded a month ago and it covered again in flowers and buds. Good choice!

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  8. Hi Tina. It is a beautiful plant. I would like to grow it but I try to stay away from the ones that like extra moisture. I'll just enjoy your photos.
    Marnie

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  9. Hi all,

    Gail and Marnie, See Frances' comment above but she says it does well with dry soil. I can personally say I have NOT watered these flowers this year and they are doing well. They can tolerate more water more than normal though, I don't want to confuse anyone, this is tough giving plant that is a super performer under many conditions. Try it out and if not, for sure enjoy mine!

    Dave, You are welcomed! Some time I will post on cuttings. I thought of it yesterday when I was cutting lantana to start up, but just couldn't get into it as yet. So until then I will refer to your good information for people wanting info on cuttings.

    Stacy, You are welcomed! Is the same SuzyQ I used to talk to all the time? Your blog has changed quite a bit but I recognize your writing and style. How are you!?

    Frances, I just bought some rust colored Helen's flower. I so love it and can see why you do too. I gave some to the President of another local garden club and her name is Helene so it was in honor of her. Many do not know this flower and it is a shame. Anytime I see a different variety I pick some up. I will save some cuttings or a plant or two for you of the yellow. I actually mail ordered this plant. I love it. It will get more popular soon-just watch.

    Dawn, Ditto! I can save cuttings or share a plant or two-no problem. The tall yellow flowers you are seeing are most likely Helianthus tuberosa, or Jeruselum Artichokes. Don't plant these except in a prairie style garden as they spread quite a bit and I have heard they are hard to get rid of. So if someone offers you some, you'll know why. Sure pretty though. Some eat the tubers as they are edible. Helenium is totally different but watch for it.

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  10. What great color! It's just what I need in my garden now, I'm going to be looking for this one for sure. Your one year old plants look great!

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  11. Moist ground?!!! Ha, not even going to think of it! ROFLOL... I know, I know I saw what Frances said but I bet this beauty must have some water to survive and No rain seems to be normal these days down here! LOL

    Beautiful flower though and I think it is great when flowers have a person name attached to them. Would make me proud to be a Helen....

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  12. That is a really pretty flower. It looks so nice, and a wonderful arrangement of yellow and green.

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  13. Helen's flower is very cheerful. How much fun to see a small cutting grow so large and healthy. What an amusing story below about brain seeds. I've never heard of them before.

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  14. I will have to get one of these plants. They sure are pretty. I like yellow in the garden. Helen is also my name so that will help to remember the name when I look for it.
    The centers each look different. Tina are they different in color & texture.

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  15. Thanks Cindy! These are great plants for a perennial bed. Cuttings-too easy.

    Skeeter, Drought getting to you? lol

    Hi DP, These are lovely flowers. They would grow great in a veggie garden:)

    Sarah, The brainy seeds are so cool! Being from the north we aren't too familiar with them. Now I learn. It is fun!

    Lola, The different centers are the different stages of the bloom. See how some are in bloom and some are not? This is one reason it has such a long bloom time. More than one month at least.

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  16. Tina, you ask if the drought is getting to me.... ha... It was 103-degrees today with a heat index of 117-degrees!!! Yes 117 degrees! I was out dragging the hose around and mowing the grass! Drought and heat are really getting to me! lOL... A front coming through tomorrow afternoon so hopefully we will get a good pop up shower! Calling for high of 88 on Friday and after a week of 100's or there about, that will feel like winter! Ah, looking forward to it.... Lake now 13 feet below normal.... sigh...

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  17. Skeeter, we are 4 1/2 inches above for the rain for the summer and 2 1/2 of that for August alone. Flood warnings for my county today. Fungus and mold everywhere! My mother is getting drizzle, 50's for a nighttime temp. Ugh, not for August! Gotta go! Greastest American dog on! Yeh for the boxer!

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  18. Hi Tina --another busy fun filled day in our neck of the woods. A little toasty but I'm hoping we get some rain soon --maybe tomorrow --like a 40% chance:) Sorry Skeeter about the heat/humidity --watering in the heat is no fun:(
    Dawn --if I tell my hubby that Jean has temps in the 50s at night --he will probably want to pack his bags tonight. A true northern boy at heart:) I myself like warmth over cold:) Crazy, crazy I know:0) hahahah
    Hi Lola, Nina and Jean --hope to see you all a little more once school starts here:0) Ciao!

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  19. I am a southern gal but thinking that 50-degree stuff is sounding mighty good right now!

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