Flowers that are hardy, radiating cheer, and thriving under the sun's rays, will illuminate the fading garden during late summer.
Top Helenium Varieties for a Vibrant Flower Garden
For a colourful and pollinator-friendly flower garden, consider planting the best Helenium varieties. These compact, hardy, and late-season bloomers, such as the popular Helenium x 'Mardi Gras' and Helenium 'Siesta', offer a splash of vibrant colours that are suitable for cut flowers.
Helenium x 'Mardi Gras'
This compact variety grows to 18-20 inches tall and blooms in late summer to early fall. It is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9, making it suitable for a wide range of climates. With its bright, hot colours, it is an excellent choice for small gardens and attracts numerous pollinators.
Helenium 'Siesta'
A medium-sized variety suitable for borders and containers, Helenium 'Siesta' blooms from August onward, providing a late-season burst of colour. It is hardy in many climates and is pollinator-friendly. This variety offers rich red fireworks of flowers that make excellent additions to cut flower arrangements.
Growing Conditions
Heleniums thrive in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. They are adaptable plants that are suitable for cottage gardens, wild gardens, and the more modern matrix style of planting. In cold, wet soil, spring is the best time to plant helenium. Taller plants may be prone to flopping when heavy with flowers, so staking may be necessary.
Caring for Heleniums
A light feed, such as Growmore, will improve the second wave of flowers. Early flowering cultivars benefit from deadheading, which may prompt a second flush of flowers. In the south, in free-draining soil, early winter may provide the best window for planting helenium. Many heleniums are easily grown from seed and will occasionally self-seed.
Propagation and Overwintering
The hybrid cultivars are best propagated by division or from basal cuttings in spring. These hybrids should be treated like tender perennials and overwintered in a coldframe before replanting in the spring. Staking is important, and two rows of string, one midway up the stems and another 20cm below the flowers, provide good support.
Where to Find Heleniums
Heleniums can be seen and bought at various nurseries and gardens, including Blooms of Bressingham, Dove Cottage Nursery, Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants, and RHS Garden Bridgewater.
Overall, Heleniums are excellent choices for pollinator-friendly, moderately compact perennials offering vibrant colour splashes and extended bloom durations, making them ideal for flower gardens aiming for late-season interest. A Chelsea chop can make the plant sturdier and reduce the risk of flopping. Some of the best helenium varieties include those that hold an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
- Incorporating Heleniums into your home-and-garden lifestyle can bring a vibrant display of colours and extend the blooming period of your flower garden, offering late-season interest.
- To create a pollinator-friendly garden, consider planting Helenium varieties like 'Mardi Gras' or 'Siesta', both of which are suitable for a range of climates and grow well in gardens, borders, and containers.
- To maximize your Helenium plants' growth and bloom, ensure they are planted in full sun, have moist, well-drained soil, and are staked to prevent flopping, especially if they are tall-growing varieties.
