Shortleaf Helen’s Flower
Helenium brevifolium
If you’re a bit of a plant collector, look no further than Shortleaf Helen’s Flower. This unusual species is native to bogs, swamps, and other wet places of the southeast and is rarely sold in the nursery trade, despite its delightfully cheery flowers that alight on tall stems in late spring. Give this adorable perennial a sunny, moist spot and you’ll be rewarded by not only its blooms, but also its deep burgundy evergreen foliage in winter.
Conditions: Full sun; moist to occasionally wet soils
Size: 1′ – 2′ tall
Zone: 7 – 9
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract small bees and pollinating flies
