Species purple-headed sneezeweed
Yellow flower with burgundy center, green bud, green stems and green leaves.

purple-headed sneezeweed

Helenium flexuosum

Purple-headed sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) is a brightly colored perennial flower native to North America. It has clustered stems of rigid leaves, topped with distinctive bright purple flower heads. The blooms are multifaceted, with bright yellow centers and purple ray petals. Butterflies and bees flock to its nectar. This plant thrives best in sunny spots and needs plenty of water to keep it blooming. It seeds itself easily and makes a colorful addition to your garden. Enjoy its bold, dramatic color in late summer and early autumn!

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Root Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 9

Flowers:

Yellow rays with brownish-purple center disk Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part sun/part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

watering

Purple-headed sneezeweed is a native North American wildflower that thrives best in sunny conditions. It requires regular water, but should not be over-watered or allowed to stand in water. It's best to water it once a week, giving it a deep, thorough watering. Generally, 1 inch of water per week is sufficient, but check the soil moisture every few days.

sunlight

Purple-headed sneezeweed prefers full sun, so ideally it should receive at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight throughout the day. It should not, however, be placed in midday sun, as this can often be too intense and damaging to the leaves. During the summer months, when the sun is more intense, try to place the plant in part shade in the part of the afternoon when the sun is at its highest intensity.

pruning

Purple-headed sneezeweed should be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. Pruning the plant helps to keep the plant vigorous and helps ensure even growth in the next season. Prune the plant by snipping off the longest, oldest stems at their base, as these are not as productive. You can prune up to 1-third of the plant, leaving the remaining stems for spring regrowth and flower production. Make sure to use sterile pruning tools to avoid transferring any diseases to the plant.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Helenium flexuosum typically starts flowering in July.

Hardiness Map