From our perspective as plants, timing is everything, and it is intrinsically linked to our dormancy cycle. Helenium roots are typically sold as bare root, meaning we are dug up and shipped during our dormant phase, a period of suspended growth where our energy is stored in our roots. Planting during this dormancy is crucial. It allows us to focus all our energy on establishing a new root system in your soil without the simultaneous demand of supporting top growth, flowers, or leaves. If planted outside of dormancy, our energy reserves are already allocated to above-ground growth, and the shock of transplanting can be fatal as we struggle to both sustain that growth and regenerate lost roots.
Our primary requirement for successful establishment is cool, workable soil. The ideal time for planting our bare roots is in early spring, just as the ground has thawed and is no longer waterlogged, but before the intense heat of summer arrives. Alternatively, in regions with milder winters, early autumn is also acceptable. The goal is to allow our root systems to settle into their new environment and begin developing feeder roots in soil that is moist and consistently cool (roughly 4°C to 10°C or 40°F to 50°F). This cool, moist environment stimulates root growth without triggering a premature burst of top growth that would be vulnerable to a late frost.
Your specific regional climate dictates the precise window. In colder Northern regions (USDA Zones 3-5), the best time is as soon as the soil can be worked in spring, typically from late March to mid-May. Planting too late here exposes our tender new growth to summer heat stress before we are fully established. In moderate regions (Zones 6-7), the window is wider. A spring planting from March to April is excellent, but an autumn planting from late September to October is also highly successful, giving us a long, cool season to establish before winter dormancy and a vigorous start the following spring. In warmer Southern regions (Zones 8-9), autumn planting is often superior. Planting from October through November allows us to establish roots through the mild winter and be ready to handle the intense summer heat with a robust root system. Avoid summer planting at all costs in these zones.
When you receive us, please hydrate our roots by soaking them in lukewarm water for 1-2 hours before planting. This rehydrates the tissues that may have dried slightly during transport. Dig a hole wide enough to spread our roots out comfortably and deep enough so the crown (where the roots meet the former stem base) is level with the soil surface. Backfill with native soil, gently firming it to eliminate large air pockets that can dry us out. A thorough watering after planting is essential to settle the soil around our roots and provide the moisture needed to initiate new growth. A layer of mulch will help conserve that moisture and regulate the soil temperature, creating the ideal environment for us to awaken from dormancy and begin our new life in your garden.
