Family

Asteraceae

Description

‘Mardi Gras’ is a vibrant cultivar of sneezeweed selected for its striking blend of gold, orange, and red petals that echo the festive palette of its namesake. A compact, upright perennial, it provides late-season color when many perennials begin to fade. Although the name “sneezeweed” suggests allergy concerns, the genus Helenium is insect-pollinated, not wind-pollinated, making it a friendlier addition to pollinator gardens than the name implies. In the landscape, it thrives in full sun and evenly moist soil, and its tidy habit makes it suitable for mixed borders or mass plantings.

Derived from native North American species, sneezeweed cultivars like ‘Mardi Gras’ retain strong ecological value. Helenium was traditionally used by Indigenous peoples, with dried leaves once made into snuff to induce sneezing and “purge illness,” hence the common name.

Bloom Time

July to September