PlantFiles: Pineapples
Helenium aromaticum

A very positive experience. The crushed flowers (as well as the leaves and seeds) have a heavenly and unique scent! I wonder to know why this plant is so little known?

The natural habitat of this Chilean Native Herb is in full sun positions. This plant reachs 50 cm height and 30 cm width, requires very little water and is therefore adecuate for xeriscaping. It blooms during spring in our zone 9b. A sligt friction of the plant will release a pleasant scent.

Sow direcly in Autumn and barely cover seeds with river sand.

The tea obtained from dry flowers are used in popular medicine as well in case of fever (just like Feverfew) as to aid digestion.

Grows quickly & easily from seed sown in spring & will flower same year. It tends to be a bit insignificant - as although there are many flowers they are small. Good plant to brush past in the border as it smells wonderfully of apple pie both flowers & leaves. Very touchable!
Late summer goes a lovely dry golden colour the flowers break up & chucks seeds about everywhere!
I've moved mine to the middle/front of the border so they can do their own thing year after year. Nice to see a clump of 3 or 4 between herbaceous perrenials.