Create Your Garden

Helenium bigelovii (Bigelow’s Sneezeweed)

Bigelow's Sneezeweed, Helenium rivulare

Helenium bigelovii, Bigelow's Sneezeweed, Helenium rivulare, Yellow Helenium, Fall Flowers
Helenium Sahin's Early Flowerer, Sneezeweed Sahin's Early Flowerer, Helenium Autumnale, Common Sneezeweed Sahin's Early Flowerer, False Sunflower Sahin's Early Flowerer, Helen's Flower Sahin's Early Flowerer, Yellow Star Sahin's Early Flowerer, late summe

Helenium bigelovii (Bigelow’s Sneezeweed) is an upright perennial bringing weeks of color in mid to late summer when many other perennials are starting to fade. It boasts large, brilliant yellow daisy-like flowers, 2 in. across (5 cm), adorned with a skirt of reflexed rays and a prominent, dark-purple center disk. Attractive to butterflies and many pollinators, the blossoms are borne on erect stems above the basal rosette of lance-shaped, dark green leaves. Sneezeweeds are highly popular for their reliable and showy display, their disease resistance, and their tolerance to any soil conditions aside from very dry or very wet. Today, most garden Heleniums are hybrids of Helenium autumnale or Helenium bigelovii. They are commonly known as ‘Sneezeweed’ due to the ancient use of their dried leaves in making snuff, inhaled to help sneeze and rid the body of evil spirits. Bigelow’s Sneezeweed likes wet places and is suitable for bog gardens, along ponds and streams, or meadows and marshes.

  • Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall (60-90 cm) and 1ft. wide (30 cm)
  • Performs best in full sun in rich, loamy, evenly moist soils. Tolerance of a variety of soils as long as sufficient moisture is provided.
  • Perfect for bog gardens and along ponds and streams.
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Deer resistant.
  • Propagate by seed (no treatment) or division.
  • Native to California, Oregon.

Requirements

Hardiness 7 - 11
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Compositae
Genus Helenium
Common names Sneezeweed, Helenium
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late)
Height 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread 10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm)
Spacing 12" (30cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average, High
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, Pacific Northwest, California, Oregon
Tolerance Deer, Clay Soil, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Helenium (Sneezeweed)
Not sure which Helenium (Sneezeweed) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Helenium flexuosum (Purple-head Sneezeweed)
Helenium amarum (Yellow Sneezeweed)
Helenium autumnale (Sneezeweed)
Helenium hoopesii (Orange Sneezeweed)
Helenium ‘Flammenrad’ (Sneezeweed)
Helenium ‘Luc’ (Sneezeweed)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Top 70 Summer Flowers to Brighten Your Garden and Home
50 Best Fall Flowers for Your Autumn Garden
50 Fall Wildflowers: Top Picks for a Vibrant Autumn Garden
50 Summer Wildflowers: Bright Blooms for Your Garden
50 Wildflowers that Thrive in Sun
50 Yellow Wildflowers: Adding Cheer to Your Garden
50 Colorado Wildflowers to Know and Love
42 Best Perennial Flowers and Plants to Brighten Your Garden Every Season
How to Create an Enchanting Butterfly Garden
For the Love of Butterflies: Best Flowers to Attract them to Your Garden
6 Reasons You Should Create a Butterfly Garden
Helenium (Sneezeweed)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 7 - 11
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Compositae
Genus Helenium
Common names Sneezeweed, Helenium
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late)
Height 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread 10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm)
Spacing 12" (30cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average, High
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, Pacific Northwest, California, Oregon
Tolerance Deer, Clay Soil, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Helenium (Sneezeweed)
Not sure which Helenium (Sneezeweed) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Helenium bigelovii (Bigelow’s Sneezeweed) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Helenium bigelovii (Bigelow’s Sneezeweed) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone