Strawflower can be grown as a short-lived tender perennial or as an annual. It is easily grown in average to dry soils. It has moderate drought tolerance. Enjoy blooms from late spring until frost. The daisy appearing flowers have a yellow central disk that is surrounded by glossy bracts in a variety of colors. Having petals similar to stiff paper, they unfold to form rings in bright colors. The common name strawflower, comes from the straw-like texture of these bracts. The flowers retain their shape and color when dried and are grown for the dried flower market. Cut fresh flowers also last a long time. Although some cultivars reach up to 5 feet tall, most are 2-3 feet tall with some 12" dwarf varieties available. Dwarf varieties do well in rock gardens, containers, or window boxes while taller plants are great for boarders. In its native to Australia, growing freely in open grassland. Its scientific name comes from the Greek xeros, meaning dry and chrysos or golden. Bracteatum comes from the Latin bracteatus which means bearing bracts. A low maintenance plant, however, you may want to deadhead regularly to encourage side shoots, resulting in more blooms. It can be cut back after flowering is competed. A annual light pruning will encourage branching, which will result in a larger amount of blooms. Formally in the genus Helichrysum . This plant is in the Asteraceae family. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : May be susceptible to downy mildew. There are no known insect problems. Taller plants may need some staking to remain upright. Plants may self-seed, however many cultivars will not grow true from seed.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Oblanceolate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Gray-green lance-shaped leaves up to 5" long. The hairs feel like a cobweb.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Good Dried; Long Bloom Season; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Smalll, 1-3 cm daisy-like flowers come in yellow, orange, white, red and pink. They have yellow centers and has ridgid papery petal-like bracts that surround a bright yellow center. The bracts have a straw-like texture, hence the common name.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Erect stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Australia
Wildlife value
Attracts butterflies, bees and birds.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow; Textural
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Rock Wall
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#flower arrangements #pollinator plant #fall interest #long bloom time #flowers early summer #showy flowers #flowers mid-summer #flowers late summer #long-lasting flowers #spring flowers #fantz #butterfly friendly #perennial flowers #annual flowers #herbaceous perennial #herbaceous #deer resistant #full sun tolerant #dried arrangements #flowers early fall #white flowers #cutting garden #perennial #annual