Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Helenium autumnale 'Potter's Wheel'
Potter's Wheel Sneezeweed
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Height
- 3-4 feet tall
- Width
- 1-2 feet wide
- Flower color
- Dark red with a thin yellow edge
- Foliage color
- Green, lance-shaped leaves
- Bloom time
- Late summer to early fall
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; deadhead spent blooms to encourage longer blooming and cut back in late fall
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 3-8
- Wildlife
- Attracts butterflies and bees
About this plant
Helenium autumnale 'Potter's Wheel' is a colorful cultivar of the native sneezeweed, showcasing dark burgundy-red flowers accented with a thin yellow edge. This rich color combination is enhanced by the bloom's dark brown, slightly raised center, adding depth and elegance to late-summer and fall garden displays. Its warm, dramatic tones bring a sophisticated touch to prairie-style plantings and perennial borders.
Blooming from late summer through early fall, 'Potter's Wheel' attracts bees and butterflies, adding movement and life to the garden. The vivid, long-lasting flowers extend seasonal interest in mixed beds and naturalized settings, providing a beautiful transition into autumn with a bold splash of color that complements other fall-blooming perennials.
Works well in
Borders · Sun Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Black-eyed Susans · Daylilies · Lavender · Coreopsis · Russian sage · Sedums
Design tip
Fall bloom is its strength, and it earns a place near a path or seating area used late in the year. In full sun it holds its shape best, and grouping several together keeps the color strong enough to be seen from across the garden.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen in the perennial border at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
