Sneezeweed, Helianthus autumnale
 
Sneezeweed brightens up the fall garden with cheerful, glowing golden pompom-shaped flowers with a skirt of yellow petals.
 
Its pollen doesn't cause allergies. Because it is large and sticky, it cannot be transported by the wind. Some Indigenous peoples have used crushed leaves to induce sneezing to fend off evil spirits. 
 
Ecology:
It is a pollinator magnet, especially for bees and flies and the host plant for the dainty sulphur butterfly, which migrates to just south of the Ontario border.
Birds love the seeds in winter.
 
Sneezeweed is part of the aster family. Like most asters, it is poisonous when eaten in large quantities and can irritate sensitive skin.