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Plant Brief

Helenium
'Double Trouble'
from Pieter Damen

Introduced 2006

The first double-flowered Helenium, this superb all-rounder produces masses of double sunny-yellow flowers over an exceptionally long period. Strong stems provide good sturdiness to these plants, which remain fairly compact with a good, uniform habit.

Height: 32”/ 80cm
Spread: 16”/ 40cm
Hardiness: US zones 4-8
Blooms: July-October

Common name:
Sneezeweed

Patent status:
EU 18455
US PPAF

 
 
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All you need to know
04-11-2005 12:04 Making sure there's always trouble in store.
By Miriam Young   

Helenium is a very easy plant to grow. It has good hardiness, tolerates a wide range of conditions and has few problems from diseases or pests.

Positioning
Like other Heleniums, 'Double Trouble' likes to grow in a sunny spot, which will encourage it to flower abundantly.
Although its preference is for moist soil, it will still perform well in most conditions, except for very dry ones.
Resist the temptation of planting 'Double Trouble' in a shady spot just because the soil is damper there - sunlight is important! The best solution for dry soil is to add humus to it which will ensure it retains moisture.

Staking
'Double Trouble' is a little shorter than many other Heleniums and has strong stems. It therefore is unlikely to require staking unless growing in a very windy position.

Pinching
If you wish to keep the plants shorter and have them flowering later, you can do this by pinching out the stems.
The best time to do this is April or May, as pinching after mid-May might prevent the flowers developing altogether!

As the plant matures
At the end of the season the plants die back, but new shoots will have grown out of the old stem, forming little rosettes. The following spring these will grow, forming a bushier plant than in the previous year.

After a few years, the plant may have grown into a large clump of rosettes and this can be divided to make a few separate plants. To do this, simply break up the clump into a few pieces, each with their own root system.
The best time to do this is in Spring, when the plants start to grow, as if it is done in the Autumn, some of the newly divided plants may not survive the winter.

 
The Breeder
Pieter Damen
By Miriam Young
Pieter Damen believes in keeping things simple - a philosophy that's paid off well for him, and now for Helenium fans too.
The Story Behind the Plant
Trouble in Store
By Miriam Young
'Double Trouble' was a plant just waiting to be unleashed.
Growing advice
All you need to know
By Miriam Young
Making sure there's always trouble in store.
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