Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

Notes: Eloise Butler first brought Sneezeweed into the Garden on September 20, 1907 when she transplanted some from the area of the Lake Street Bridge (Minneapolis). In September 1908 she brought in more from Mahtomedi, MN.; again in September 1910 she brought in plants from Washburn Park, Minneapolis; and on May 12, 1914 she obtained 100 clumps from near the ferry at Ft. Snelling, Minneapolis and found more at Twin Lake that August. 1917 saw more as did 1925 and '27. Martha Crone also planted Sneezeweed in 1933, '35, '36, '45 and '47. It was still present at the time of her 1951 Garden census and seems to come an go periodically.

Helenium autumnale is found throughout North America except the far north and the Canadian Maritime Provinces. Within Minnesota it is found in most counties with widely scattered exceptions. There are a few varieties of this species published by various botanists over the years but they are not recognized in Minnesota or by Flora of North America (Ref. #W7). This is the only species of Helenium native to the state. There are numerous species of Helenium in both the New World and the Old, most all with some variation of "Sneezeweed" in their common name.

Uses: It is reported that the dried disc florets were powdered and used for snuff although I have no direct reference for that other than Eloise Butler and also that George (Ref. #6b) reports that the pollen when inhaled, causes violent sneezing and that the powdered flower heads were used in medicine for that purpose and from that comes the common name.

Eloise Butler wrote: "Helenium autumnale is a glorious, late composite in rich, low land. From now on it will unfold its golden disks as long as any flower endures. It blossoms freely and often attains a height of six feet. The soft yellow ray petals are divided like those of coreopsis and surround a convex disk. The leaves are pale green, just the right shade to harmonize with the flowers. They run down on the angles of the stem, making narrow, winglike projections. If the leaves are dried and pulverized they make a titillating powder as efficacious as snuff for those who enjoy sneezing, hence its common name, sneezeweed."

"Florists cultivate the plant and have produced from it varieties. It is excellent for formal gardens on account of its height, refined color and its late, profuse blooms. It never fails to respond under transplanting. A colony of sneezeweed in the wild garden of two successive seasons which was lifted when in full bloom has repaid the labor by continuing to bloom at its appointed time". Published Sept. 3, 1911, Minneapolis Sunday Tribune - entire article.

Toxicity: George (Ref. #6b) reports that the plant is poisonous to browsing mammals, particularly the flowers and a small amount taken by a milk cow will taint the milk. Animals usually avoid it.

Comments of Pliny the Elder from Natural History, ca before 79CE: "The helenium, which springs, as we have already stated, [Chapter 33] from the tears of Helena, is generally thought to have been produced for improving the appearance, and to maintain unimpaired the freshness of the skin in females, both of the face and of other parts of the body. Besides this, it is generally supposed that the use of it confers additional graces on the person, and ensures universal attraction. They say, too, that, taken with wine, it promotes gaiety of spirit, having, in fact, a similar effect to the nepenthes, which has been so much vaunted by Homer, as producing forgetfulness of all sorrow. The juice of this plant is remarkably sweet, and the root of it, taken fasting in water, is good for hardness of breathing; 'it is white within, and sweet. An infusion of it is taken in wine for the stings of serpents; and the plant, bruised, it is said, will kill mice."