Strawflower (Everlasting, Immortelle)
Helichrysum bracteatum. ASTERACEAE (COMPOSITAE).
Planting and Growing Strawflower
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow strawflower in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of strawflower
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for strawflower
- Season of bloom and planting time for strawflower
- When, how deep, and where to plant strawflower
- How to plant strawflower
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of strawflower
- Landscape and container uses of strawflower
- Comments about strawflower and its features
Growing Strawflower
Many cultivars of upright, narrow, shrublike, deciduous perennial herbs, 2–3 ft. (60–90 cm) tall, 1 ft. (30 cm) wide. Velvety or smooth, deep or yellow green, lance-shaped, pointed leaves, 4–5 in. (10–13 cm) long.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, single or double, orange, pink, red, white, yellow, round, papery, flowerlike bracts, 3–12 in. (75–305 mm) wide, surround broad, black, brown, gray centers bearing tiny true flowers, as single or clustered blossoms, in summer–early autumn.
Best Climates
Semi-hardy. Plant as annual, zones 3–6; ground-hardy, zones 7–11.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich–low. 7.0–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun, 1–2 ft. (30–60 cm) apart, after soil warms.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist until established; drought tolerant thereafter. Fertilize semi-monthly. Stake tallest cultivars. Propagate by seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for beds, borders, containers, massed plantings in cottage, formal, meadow, wildlife gardens. Good for cutting, drying. Attracts birds. Pest and disease resistant.