Helenium Moerheim Beauty (3 × 9cm pots)

Copper-red, daisy-like flowers over a long season. Position: Full sun Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil Rate of growth: Average Flowering period: June to August Hardiness: Fully hardy Held on wiry stems above the foliage, 'Moerheim Beauty' has long-lasting, strongly-reflexed, daisy-like flowerheads, 6-8cm across, that appear in summer, in shades of rich orange and red with a prominent brown centre. Hugely popular with both gardeners and pollinating insects, this RHS award-winning, upright perennial combines wonderfully with ornamental grasses and earth-toned flowers and looks fabulous when grown in front of a purple beech hedge. Garden care: Heleniums are versatile plants that love plenty of sunshine and moist soil. They rarely suffer from pests or diseases, however young plants do need to be protected from slug attack. Tall varieties need to be staked. To encourage the plant to repeat flower, deadhead back to side shoots that have flower buds emerging. Cut back by half after flowering to help prevent mildew, and cut down to the ground in late winter. Every two or three years in the spring when the new growth is surging away you can divide the plants to keep them in top condition. Ideally the new growth should be about 7cm high. Either replant them straight into the ground with loads of well-rotted organic matter to feed them and keep them moist, or plant them into pots, but do make sure they are kept watered.