50 Helenium Autumnale Red & Gold Seeds, Long Flowering, Hardy Perennial. Tall, Stunning Daisy-like Large Flowers from July to September! The Flowers Attract Bees & Butterflies. Beautiful in a Vase. Seeds can be sown Indoors February to May or September to October. 50 Seeds Supplied.
Helenium hardy perennials are well worth growing from seed. The gorgeous large daisy-like flowers of Autumnale Red & Gold are really striking. The large flower heads are fiery shades of red, orange and gold and they are such lovely, warm colours! The flowers have a prominent, dome shaped, raised centres. The tall flowers will make a wonderful splash of colour in your borders and very large pots, amongst your other plants. The flowers are long lasting and are great for cut flower arrangements. Helenium are clump forming perennials and should survive a normal UK winter and come back bigger and better the following year. When established the plants grow quickly and will be smothered in the gorgeous cheery blooms from July through to September/October. Just remember to remove dead flower heads to encourage repeat flowering. The flowers are very attractive to bees and butterflies. For the best display we recommend that you plant out in groups of three. Helenium plants will be happy in a sunny position, preferably. As they are clump forming, clumps can be split if they are getting too large, after 2 or 3 years. Helenium are very versatile plants and iwill grow almost anywhere, even in quite dry soil when established, but new plants will grow better in moist soil. The plants will become bushy with a mature height of approx 90-120cm and mature spread of 45cm. The pictures may show mature plants for illustration only (seeds only are supplied).
History: Heleniums were commonly called "sneezeweed" as years ago the leaves of this plant were dried and used to make snuff, this was inhaled to cause sneezing and thus rid the body of evil spirits!
Sowing: Indoors February to May or September to October.
Sow seeds under cover in cell trays or pots of moist seed compost, cover seeds only very thinly with compost, using a fine sieve. Do not exclude light. Keep soil moist but not soaked. Germination usually takes 2-3 weeks but can be slow depending on temperature, but it will be quicker if a temperature of 18-20c is maintained. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 9cm pots of compost. Continue to grow on until large enough to plant outside after frost has finished. Acclimatise the plants to outdoor temperatures for 8-10 days before planting in their final sunny position. Protect young plants from frost. Mature plants form clumps and can be divided approx every 3 years. Cut back old growth each year in the Spring, when new shoots start to appear.
Seeds are packed in Manilla/gripseal packets and sent by 1st Class Post in a protective padded envelope, with growing instructions.