Mardi Gras Sneezeweed
Helenium 'Mardi Gras'Add a burst of late-season color to your garden with Helenium ‘Mardi Gras’, a cheerful native perennial that lives up to its festive name. Its vibrant blooms bring warmth and energy to garden beds just as summer starts to wind down. Each flower is unique with bi-colored petals surrounding a dark central cone, creating a stunning, natural mosaic of color.
This hardy plant grows to about 3 to 4 feet tall and is perfect for sunny borders, pollinator gardens, and cut flower arrangements. It blooms from midsummer through early fall, attracting honey bees and butterflies with its nectar-rich flowers. Despite its common name, sneezeweed, it doesn’t trigger allergies. Historically, its dried leaves were once used as snuff. This snuff mixture was used to induce sneezing, but the plant on its own does not cause it.
Helenium ‘Mardi Gras’ is easy to grow and moderately low-maintenance. It prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It is tolerant of heavier soils, including clay. Deadheading spent flowers will keep the plant blooming longer, and dividing the clump every few years will help it thrive. Deer tend to leave it alone, making it a great choice for adding to a deer-resistant garden.
Care Instructions
- Planting: Choose a sunny location with fertile, moisture-retentive soil. Space 18–24 inches apart to allow good air circulation.
- Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, especially during dry spells. Avoid overwatering.
- Pruning: Deadhead spent blooms to extend flowering. Cut back to the base in late fall or early spring.
- Pest Control: This perennial is largely pest-resistant, with deer, rabbits, slugs, and most chewing insects typically avoiding its bitter foliage and tough stems.
- Soil Tips: It performs best in loamy, sandy, or clay soils that are well-drained and consistently moist, making it adaptable to a variety of garden conditions.
Helenium ‘Mardi Gras’ offers color, structure, and wildlife value—making it a standout addition for gardeners who want dependable, seasonal interest with a bold personality.
