New Mexico State University
College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences | ACES
NMSU: Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Diné bikéyah Chi’l nooséłígíí Bąąhą́ą́nosin
Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

Sneezeweed

Nií’ii’nił
Flowers have prominent disks, which provide fodder for bees like the one picture here. Ray flowers are three-lobed. The entire flower is bright yellow.
Beverly Turner, Jackson Minnesota, Bugwood.org

Sneezeweed is native to the United States. It is not a significant food source for livestock or large animals, but it does attract butterflies. It can be toxic to livestock (particularly sheep) and humans if consumed in quantity.

The plants grow to a height of 4 to 5 feet. Stems are winged. Leaves are hairy. The flower's center is globular and protruding from the petals or ray flowers. Flower diameter is about two inches, and each of the petals have three lobes. Leaves are lance shaped and about six inches long. The plants grow on roadsides and show a preference for moist soils.

Growth habit with upright stems and somewhat branched structure
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
Flowers displaying protruding disk with ray flowers swept back toward the base of the flower
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
Winged stems and lanceolate foliage
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
Scientific Name
Helenium autumnale
Plant Type
Forb
Growing Season
Warm Season
Habitats
  • Grasslands
  • Wastelands
Flower Color
Yellow
Other Traits
⚠
Potentially toxic to livestock and humans
✓
Butterfly forage

For definitions, see the glossary.

©2018 NMSU Board of Regents.
Individual photographers retain all rights to their images.
Partially funded by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (westernsare.org; 435.797.2257), project EW15-023.
Programs and projects supported by Western SARE are equally open to all people.