Helenium and boltonia are perennials that grow well in our region. Both come in a range of colors and boast great attributes: pollinators love them, and deer and woodchucks don’t. Looking for some beautiful native plants that are fairly care-free and boast bright colors in late summer and fall? Try growing boltonia and helenium, both from the aster family.
These perennials are blooming now and can be a nice alternative to goldenrod and other asters. They do well in our climate and can grow 3 to 5 feet tall with multiple, small and bright blooms. They also make great pollinator plants and deer, rabbits and woodchucks don’t like them.
More from Vermont Public: Some low-key, late summer flowers that pollinators cannot resist
Boltonia blossoms with white or pink flowers, depending on the variety, does well in wet soils and is even tolerant of clay soils. Helenium is a little more particular as it likes full sun and well-drained soil, but the species variety of it can survive in wet areas. Helenium has yellow, orange or burgundy colored flowers, depending on the variety.
Both will slowly spread, with the helenium spreading as a clump, which you can divide every three years. And despite its common name — “sneeze weed” — these flowers do not cause seasonal allergies.
Boltonia will be clump-like but will also have rhizomes, so it will spread a little more aggressively. Because of this, you might want to watch for excessive spread if you have a formal perennial garden. Boltonia might be better in a pollinator garden or a meadow.
Give both boltonia and helenium a try to add to your palette of perennial colors that bloom in late summer and fall.
