Helenium 'Summer Sun'

Hardy Herbaceous Perennial

Family: Asteraceae

Light Preference: Full sun

Moisture Preference: Moist well drained soil, keep moist in summer

Height: 1.2m

Growth Habit: Tall perennials with branching multi-stemmed flower heads

Flowering season: Summer - Autumn

Planting Use: Back of borders, cottage garden, cut flower

Description: Helenium 'Summer Sun' is a tall helenium with branching multi-stemmed flower heads with many pure golden, yellow centred daisy flowers.

It definitely needs some support as it can be prone to flopping it's tall flower heavy stems.  It benefits from pinching in the spring to encourage more flower stems, that are a usable size.  Sometimes I even cut it back by more then half, so that it doesn't get as tall and flowers in autumn rather than in the summer - just when flowers are getting scarcer.  The more you cut it in bloom the more blooms it will produce on stronger stems. 

Notes on cutting: This is a beautiful Helenium for cutting, an can last up to 10 days in the vase.  I like to pick it when the terminal flower has finished (and can be removed if needed) and the surrounding secondary flowers are opening, which gives more volume, and less chance of immature flowers flopping.

Supplied in 1L recycled plastic pots