Helenium 'Coppelia' vs. 'Mardi Gras'?

13 years ago

Hi everybody--new member here looking forward to having people to talk plants with!

I grew Helenium 'Mardi Gras' this year for the first time in my backyard butterfly bed, and I just love it. It has bloomed continuously since early June and is still full of buds. The foliage is gorgeous too and is never troubled by pests.

In my front foundation planting, I'm trying to go with a burgundy/dark purple/orange theme and I have a big clump of Sundown echinacea that needs to go (too much like a neon orange highlighter that then fades to ratty pink). I thought of replacing it with a big sweep of 'Mardi Gras' but then saw a picture of 'Coppelia' and was wondering how that would do. If it's a true coppery orange, it would probably look even better than 'Mardi Gras.'

Have any of you grown both? Can you tell me how the color and bloom time compare? Thanks!

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Comments (4)

christinmk z5b eastern WA
13 years ago
Welcome antonia! Glad to have you on the forums ;-)

I have grown 'Mardi Gras' for four or five years, Coppelia for two. So far the Mardi Gras has shown itself to be superior in the fact that it starts to bloom earlier, blooms longer, and just seems to be an overall robust grower and fast clumper. My Mardi Gras began blooming the start of July (sometimes end of June) and is still going. If it performs the same as years past it will take a little break in Aug. before starting up again for a fall blooming.

My other two Helenium (including Coppelia) are still in the bud stage- will be another couple of weeks before they open.
To my eye, Coppelia is more deep reddish color when it first opens. As the blooms age they turn to a burnt orange/copper shade. Has the slightest hint of yellow around the edge of petals.
Hope this helps you some ;-)
CMK
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echinaceamaniac
13 years ago
I have 'Mardi Gras' and I like it. I'm glad you asked about these plants. I've been looking for some other varieties and can't find them for sale around here. 'Tiny Dancer' and 'Double Trouble' are just two of the ones I'm wanting to grow.
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Great pictures/info, wieslaw. Helenium is one of my favourite perennials. I've grown numbers of Helenium cultivars. I find Helenium is relatively high maintenance, especially for the need to break up and replanted plants (in upgraded soil), every few years. If not, the plants get shorter and, over several years, peter away. Have had Helenium autumnale and various cultivars of the species like 'Rotgold' (Red and Gold) around for 10 to 15 years. Have also had a very robust, very tall and very yellow one (I assume it is 'Sonnenwunder'), 'Rubinszwerg' and 'The Bishop' for years. We've had 'Flammenspiel', 'Mardi Gras' and 'Sahin's Early Flowerer' for 4 or 5 years. I do like 'Sahin's Early Flowerer' for it's big blooms and long bloom time (and I don't mind staking). Most recent acquisition is 'Red Jewel'. Had it two years. Very attractive and seems quite robust. Believe heleniums have done well for me, in several gardens, because there's been sun, enriched soil, watering as required, staking if required and attention to division (pulling the plants apart) and replanting (as said).
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kbeuerlein
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you both! Very helpful. I still don't know what I want to do, though. ; )

I haven't heard of those other two cultivars . . . will have to do some research on that.
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leslie197
13 years ago
My Coppelia has too much yellow in it to use for an orange purple combo. Mine is in bloom now, if it went through a true coppery orange stage, I missed it, (and have missed it every year). Mine is a vague rust color with a fairly wide band of yellow at the tips. I have had it for about 5 years now & have never found a particularly good combo using it. Just never got around to removing it.
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Helenium 'Coppelia' vs. 'Mardi Gras'?

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christinmk z5b eastern WA

echinaceamaniac

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Helenium 'Coppelia' vs. 'Mardi Gras'?

Comments (4)

christinmk z5b eastern WA

echinaceamaniac

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kbeuerleinOriginal Author

leslie197

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