Making a big deal of two early to bloom Heleniums
It is many years since we had Heleniums in the garden. In fact, it was while we were in Aberdeen.
I didn’t like them very much, problem was we chose varieties that were way too tall and didn’t start blooming until late August.
I am now a total convert after planting Helenium Waltraut. Purchased 9cm pots of them last September and they came on leaps and bounds.
Online information on this one gives varied information regarding the flowering period. Some have it as August to September, others June till September.
In our garden, here in Fife, Scotland they started to bloom early July, and with dead heading they are looking good in early September and I expect them to flourish for another few weeks yet.
A fully hardy perennial in the UK
90 cm tall/75 cm wide
Splashed with, orange, lemon and bronze, the 3-inch flowers are abundant. Loved by the bees and butterflies.
Best in full sun
Not too fussy as long as it’s free draining. When flowering in Summer, it will let you know if it needs water by wilting.
We purchased and planted (Wesergold) at the same time as Helenium Waltraut. Everything about Wesergold, flowering period, height etc is identical to Waltraut except, as you can see, for the colour.
A while back, I did a post on our Portuguese laurel. Although I mentioned that it was hardy, I had my doubts about it flowering in our cooler Summer temperatures.
I guess I had it in my mind that the evergreen shrub native to Portugal, was lucky to be doing so well in Scotland. Turns out it really is pretty hardy.
Four years it’s been in the border, I had given up on it flowering. Take a look below and see how it did in June 2021. Pity about the hole in the middle, it may fill in.
Read more on aberdeengardening.co.uk