Helenium 'Helena Red Shades'
Good Qualities:
Year 1:
Great fall color (3); Yellow fades to burnt orange/red thick rim, some side shoots long enough to use; Very good vase life, great autumn color, red in a kanaria; Easy to grow, can=t wait till next year; It was very tough and durable, the colors were wonderful in both varieties, did not seem to have any noticeable pest problems, I liked these very much and will definitely use again, sold every stem; Nice color range, large healthy plants, strong stems, vigorous.
Year 2:
Great fall color (3): Easy to grow, bunches and picks fast; A tough plant, did very well here; Strong growing plants, many stems; Vigorous plant, blooms late in the summer; Great vase life like Helenium kanaria, but with different colors, very popular for fall design work and back to school, if cut back when last 10% of flowers are still blooming, we have enough time to get a second flush of about 20 inch tall stems.
Problems:
Year 1:
Some not >red shades= (came in yellow) - Hard to decide where to cut; Wants to throw only a few very large stems; Army worms.
Year 2:
Stripping foliage is more difficult than other flower; Like the yellow one, it started blooming in early August, would be much more marketable in September; This plant just blooms at the wrong time. In mid Aug. the red and gold colors are just “too” fall like, the flower is difficult for florists to use; There is a lot of variation in the color and markings on these, could be a problem in some market channels; Staking or netting necessary to prevent wind and rain damage, best if cut to 10 inches when plants reach 2 feet to reduce size of flower heads
Trial Data
Year 1
| Plants flowering (%) | Plants dead at end of summer (%) | Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating - Wholesale (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Retail (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Consumer (1) | Repeat Again Rating (1) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (1) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 100.0 | 5.7 | 3.4 | 26.8 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Range of Responses | 100 | 0-34 | 0-11 | 15-40 | 4-5 | 5 | 5 | 4-5 | 4-5 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Year 2
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating - Wholesale (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Retail (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Consumer (1) | Repeat Again Rating (2) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (2) | Average Spacing (in2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 100 | 13.7 | 42.0 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.8 |
| Range of Responses | 100 | 3-40 | 36-48 | 4-5 | 2-5 | 2-5 | 2-5 | 4-5 |
(1) Data shown are from those respondents who harvested stems. Some respondents may not have harvested stems because they were too short. Flowering stems may be longer next year after plants are established. See comments section for more details.
(2) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Green Leaf Enterprises/Benary (GL)
2369 Old Philadelphia Pike
Lancaster, PA 17602
717-299-0300
FAX 717-299-7162
perennials@yoder.com
Comments:
Year 1:
Editor note: See the Postharvest Report in this issue for vase life and handling information. Similar to Helenium kanaria; Need to pinch at 10 inches so it will throw more smaller stems; I have grown helenium in the past - It is not a great cut, but would be ok if it bloomed in Sept/Oct. - It blooms in Aug. when color doesn't sell.
Year 2:
Similar to Helenium kanaria and Helenium magnificum: Florists asked for this; Growing this as an annual-planting early and blooming in Sept. might make it more salable, it grows very well and makes many long stems.