sneezeweed

[ sneez-weed ]

noun

1. any of several coarse composite plants of the genus Helenium, the flowers of which resemble sunflowers and cause sneezing.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sneezeweed¹

First recorded in 1830–40; sneeze + weed ¹

Example Sentences

Clumping growth on the sneezeweed fills out until midsummer, then sends up flowering stalks for a generous bloom season that carries well into fall.

From Seattle Times

They planted butterfly milkweed, prairie blazing star, stiff goldenrod, sneezeweed, black-eyed Susan and partridge pea, all without tilling the land.

From Washington Times

Whoever cares to learn from experience why this was called sneezeweed, must take a whiff of snuff made of the dried and powdered leaves.

From Project Gutenberg

Whoever cares to learn from experience why this was called the sneezeweed, must take a whiff of snuff made of the dried and powdered leaves.

From Project Gutenberg