Ah that’s such a good description of them, Daniel! I’m not quite ready to give up on my Heleniums (the ones I don’t have just now!). Agree they wont like the droughts. But I think this winter I will be creating some Hügelkultur beds using the wood in a dead hedge and piling soil on top, as a mitigation measure against the lack of water. At which point, it will probably rain for a year!
I’m a big helenium fan, such wonderful colourings! I like to think of them as little flamenco dancers, the ladies flinging their skirts around.
Free draining soil and the recent droughts though mean they just aren’t practical in my garden unfortunately.
Ah that’s such a good description of them, Daniel! I’m not quite ready to give up on my Heleniums (the ones I don’t have just now!). Agree they wont like the droughts. But I think this winter I will be creating some Hügelkultur beds using the wood in a dead hedge and piling soil on top, as a mitigation measure against the lack of water. At which point, it will probably rain for a year!
Sounds like a great idea, hope it works to help keep them fit and healthy for you!
Keep trying - once they're established they are very resilient.
I have had Sahin's Early Flowerer in an unwatered bed of poor soil for five years and it's a glory.