Native Plants
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Helenium flexuosum
Helenium flexuosum Raf.
Purplehead Sneezeweed, Purple-head Sneezeweed
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s): Helenium floridanum, Helenium godfreyi, Helenium nudiflorum
USDA Symbol: HEFL
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (I)
Helenium flexuosum can be identified by its purplish brown ball of disc flowers.
The genus is thought to have been named by Linnaeus for Helen of Troy. The legend is that the flowers sprung up from the ground where her tears fell.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow , Purple , BrownBloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WVCanada: NS , ON , QC
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Benefit
Use Medicinal: Dried powdered leaves and flower heads cause violent sneezing. Were formerly used in treatment of colds and congestion. Infusion of leaves used by some Indians as a laxative.Warning: Toxic to cattle.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACW | FAC | FACW | FAC | FAC |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE
Bibliography
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Additional resources
USDA: Find Helenium flexuosum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Helenium flexuosum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Helenium flexuosum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-12-27Research By: TWC Staff