Helenium / Helenium autumnale
This plant normally goes by the common name Sneezeweed, but we refuse to call it that because it absolutely does not cause sneezing and Helenium - its genus - is already a great name. They're well-behaved in the garden, bloom for weeks, and attract many different insect species. The flower buds also look really interesting before they bloom.
Seed Planting/Germination Key
Storage: Store in a cool, dry, dark place prior to planting.
Rule of thumb for depth of planting: The maximum depth should generally be half the width of the seed, but many wildflower seeds will germinate well if sown on the surface.
Easy: Generally germinates within 5 to 30 days with no need for cold pretreatment. Keep potting mix or soil consistently moist during the germination period.
Cold(30): Germination rates are higher if cold pretreatment applied either by placing the seed within moist paper towel or sand within a refrigerator for 30 days or outside in late winter.
Cold(60): Germination rates are higher if cold pretreatment applied either by placing the seed within moist paper towel or sand within a refrigerator for 60 days or outside in mid-winter.
Cold(90); Outdoors: Germination rates are higher if cold pretreatment applied either by placing the seed within moist paper towel or sand within a refrigerator for 90 days or outside in late fall or early winter. The best route is to plant these outdoors in either a pot or directly on the soil.
Approximate Seeds Per Packet: 100
Germination: Easy
Lifecycle: Perennial
Sunlight: Full, Part
Soil Moisture: Wet, Moist
Height: 4
Bloom Period: July-September
Bloom Color: Yellow
USDA Zones: 3-9
Attracts: Bees
Larval Host For: Dainty Sulphur Butterfly