indiana native plant of the month - october
As we say goodbye to seasonal allergies, we wanted to give a final farewell with October’s plant of the Month…
Autumn sneezeweed (helenium autumnale)
Autumn Sneezeweed loves moist soils along streams, in ditch lines, or in rain gardens. Creating a beautiful color to ring in the fall weather until first few frosts. This plant is resistant to deer, poor soil, and rabbits. Bringing critters such as butterflies, pollinators, songbirds, and small mammals a treat during the last weeks before winter makes its appearance.
description: identifying autumn sneezeweed
Autumn Sneezeweed has a few key identifying traits such as:
Flattened flower heads with bright yellow/orange/copper rays
Oblong, small (2”-5”) leaves
3’-5’ height overall
Fun fact - snuffing sneezeweed
The flowers and leaves of this specific plant have been dried and used as snuff in the past; giving it it’s name “sneezeweed”.
