Southern Sneezeweed
Helenium flexuosum
Last reviewed: October 2026
Southern sneezeweed is a sun loving forb that blooms yellow from June through August in moist meadows, ditches, and pond edges across much of the eastern and southeastern United States.
Toxicity unknown
Southern Sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Southern Sneezeweed as toxic to livestock.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–36" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AL, AR, FL, GA and 18 more states
Pollinators
butterflies, bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Southern Sneezeweed produces bright yellow daisy-like flowers with distinctive notched petals from June through August. This native Texas perennial grows in an upright, somewhat bushy form and goes dormant in winter. It thrives in full sun with moderate water needs.
Growing Southern Sneezeweed
Grow Southern Sneezeweed in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Southern Sneezeweed is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
Wildlife value
The cheerful blooms attract butterflies and native bees throughout the summer months. This plant provides valuable nectar when many other wildflowers have finished blooming.
Common questions
- When does Southern sneezeweed bloom?
- Southern sneezeweed typically flowers from June through August, producing yellow daisy like blooms with domed centers.
- What kind of light does Southern sneezeweed need?
- It grows best in full sun but will tolerate part sun, especially where summers are hot.
- How much water does Southern sneezeweed need?
- This plant prefers medium to consistently moist soil and is often found in wet meadows, ditches, and low areas that hold water after rain.
- What pollinators visit Southern sneezeweed?
- Bees and butterflies commonly visit the flowers for nectar and pollen through the summer bloom period.
- What type of plant is Southern sneezeweed?
- It is a herbaceous forb that dies back each year, regrowing from the base in spring.
- Is Southern Sneezeweed toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Southern Sneezeweed as toxic to livestock.
- Is Southern Sneezeweed HOA-friendly?
- Southern Sneezeweed is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Southern Sneezeweed? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.