Helenium autumnale ‘Helena Red Shades’ seeds – (Autumn Helenium)

Description

Picture thanks to Jelitto seeds https://www.jelitto.com

This plant is a bright easy care perennial, which brings its bright flowers in the late summer when almost everything else in the garden has long finished, and is becoming tatty as it winds down for the autumn. Helenium “Helena Red Shades” flowers in the first year from seed. On well-branched, upright stems  it produces many  small round  flowers in a rich spectrum of red, copper and brown shades. It is a very good performer in your garden and makes a great cut flower. It flowers in the first year from seed.

Sowing advice
Surface sow onto moist well-drained seed compost. Just cover with a fine sprinkling of soil. Propagate 18-20°C. Do not exclude light. Germination takes 14-21 days but can be erratic. If germination does not occur cold stratify. Move to -4-+4°C for 2-4 weeks then return to warmth. Transplant seedlings once large enough to handle to 8cm pots and grow on in cooler conditions 12-15°C. Acclimatise and plant out once danger of frost has passed with 50cm spacing. Autumn sowings can be overwintered in a cold frame and planted out the following spring.