‘Short and Sassy’ Helenium (Skagit Gardens Photo)

Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) is a bee/butterfly friendly perennial that blooms heavily from mid-summer into early fall. Helenium (“sneezeweed”) does not cause hayfever or irritate sinus passages. The genus Helenium is named for Helen of Troy. Its dried leaves were once crunched to make a snuff to promote sneezing.

This tough prairie native thrives in full sun and in a moist well-drained soil (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). ‘Short n Sassy’ is a new dwarf cultivar introduced by Skagit Gardens in Mount Vernon, WA. Those who garden in a small space or in containers will appreciate this diminutive form.

As its cultivar name hints, Short and Sassy plants grow in a compact mound-like habit reaching a height of 12-18 inches and 24 inches width. It never requires staking and the brightly colored flowers stand tall above the foliage. It starts flowering a week or two earlier than other heleniums.

Their charming flowers fill the late summer garden with vibrant fiesta colored blazing orange and yellow ray flowers centered by a coffee-brown button. Petals open almost red and fade to bright orange. Narrow slender leaves are a rich glossy green color and stay disease and pest-free.

Spring-planted heleniums establish quickly and demonstrate good heat and drought tolerances as flowering begins. Bloom period can be extended if spent flowers are quickly removed. Bees and butterflies work the flowers; birds feast on the seeds in the fall. Deer generally stay clear from helenium plants.

Plants should be divided every 2-3 years to retain clump vigor.