FLOWER OF THE WEEK AT SOPCHOPPY DEPOT PARK

Southeastern Sneezeweed

By LYNN ARTZ, DAVID RODDENBERRY, and SANDY TEDDER

Southeastern sneezeweed (Helenium pinnatifidum) is unlikely to make you sneeze. The sunny spring blooms are more likely to make you smile. This long-lived wetland wildflower puts on a dazzling display in mass. Each flower has a dense yellow center with up to 800 minuscule disc flowers. The center is surrounded by many bright yellow petals with 3 notches. The solitary 2-inch-wide flowers sit atop erect stems 1-3 feet tall that arise from a basal rosette of leaves. These perennial wildflowers thrive in full sun and attract bees and butterflies. Southeastern sneezeweed occurs naturally in wet flatwoods and roadside ditches, and along marsh and swamp edges. Several other native wildflowers have the unfortunate and inaccurate common name of sneezeweed. This species is blooming now along the pond at Sopchoppy Depot Park.