Helenium ‘Helena Red Shades

Why I grow it
Helenium is a brilliant late-summer perennial when some of the earlier flowers are starting to run out of steam. ‘Helena Red Shades’ produces masses of warm red, rust and burnt-orange daisy-like flowers and keeps going well into autumn.

At a glance
Type: Flowering perennial
Growth: Upright, clump-forming
Flowers: Red, rust and orange daisy-like flowers with prominent centres
Flowering: Summer into autumn
Inventory: 8 plants

In the garden
Useful towards the middle or back of a mixed border, where its upright stems add height without taking up enormous amounts of ground space. It looks particularly good planted amongst grasses and other later-flowering perennials rather than standing about by itself looking organised.

The flowers are also well used by bees and other pollinating insects.

Care
Best in full sun with reasonably fertile soil that doesn't dry out completely in summer. Water during prolonged dry periods. Deadheading can prolong flowering, then cut the old stems back once they've finished for the year.

Established clumps can be divided every few years if they become crowded — conveniently producing more plants.

What you’ll receive
One established Helenium ‘Helena Red Shades’ plant, ready to plant into the garden.