Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Melanthiaceae

Genus:

Helonias

Species:

Helonias bullata

USDA Symbol:

HEBU

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

60 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

apr,may

Bloom Colors:

pink, lavender

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, moist, organic soil

pH:

4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers wetland habitats like bogs and swamps

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Seeds require cold stratification and consistently moist conditions. Germination can be erratic.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI