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Clarence A. Rechenthin @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database, no rights reserved (CC0) · Wikimedia Commons
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Overview
Helenium amarum is a bushy summer annual native to the south-central and southeastern United States, growing 6-24 inches (15-60 cm) tall with many slender branches. The leaves are thread-like and finely divided, crowded along the stems and giving the plant a soft, almost feathery look. From early summer into fall it carries numerous yellow daisy-like flower heads about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide, each with a rounded yellow center disk and 5-10 wedge-shaped, three-toothed yellow rays that bend downward. The whole plant has a bitter taste and a sharp scent; when cattle graze it, the bitterness passes into their milk. It grows readily in overgrazed pastures, roadsides, fields, and other disturbed open ground, and it spreads quickly by abundant seed. H. amarum tolerates heat, drought, and poor sandy soils in full sun. Its weedy vigor and bitter, livestock-tainting foliage are its main drawbacks in managed pastures. The plant dies with the first hard frost, completing its life cycle in a single season.
Native Range
Native to the south-central and southeastern United States, centered on Texas and the Gulf states and spreading north and east through much of the eastern United States. It grows in pastures, fields, roadsides, and other open disturbed ground.Suggested Uses
Used in meadow plantings, wildflower mixes, and low-water naturalized areas on poor soils. Its long bloom supports pollinators, though its seeding habit suits informal rather than tidy settings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 2'
Width/Spread6" - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Yellow flower heads open from early summer through fall, generally June into October, until frost ends the season. The flowers draw bees and other small pollinators over a long period. Each plant produces large numbers of seeds that carry it into the next year.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow H. amarum in full sun and well-drained soil; it tolerates poor, sandy, dry ground and needs no fertilizer. Sow seed directly in spring after the last frost, pressing it onto the surface since light aids germination. Once up, the plant withstands heat and drought with little or no irrigation. It self-sows freely and can become weedy, so remove spent plants before seed sets where spread is unwanted. In pastures it is grazed only when other forage is scarce. No staking or routine care is needed through the season.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Shear lightly in midsummer to encourage branching and more flowers if a fuller shape is wanted. Remove and discard whole plants before seed drop to limit self-sowing.⚠️ Toxicity Warning
Toxic to petsPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Direct Sow Timing
Spring after the last frost
Days to Maturity
60–90 days
Plant Spacing
12 inches