Helenium Helena Red Shades Seeds

Sow Helenium seeds indoors from January to April. Use a seed tray with good-quality pre-watered compost. Lightly cover the seeds, keep them warm and moist, and seedlings should emerge in 2-4 weeks. Transplant to a sunny spot outdoors from May, spacing plants 45cm apart, where they will bloom from June to October. Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering.

Helenium plants are best suited to garden beds and borders and may not do as well in pots. If you want to try container growing, choose a large, deep container with plenty of drainage holes and well-draining potting mix. Water and fertilise regularly throughout the growing season. The roots may be more sensitive to cold if container grown, so consider bringing your Heleniums inside during winter.

Helenium autumnale 'Helena Red Shades' grow to a height of 90-120cm. These tall, upright perennials take a minimum of one full growing season to mature, though they will usually flower in their first year.