Everlasting flower (Xerochrysum bracteatum)
The Everlasting flower, Xerochrysum bracteatum, offers showy, papery blooms perfect for drying. This low-maintenance annual delights from June to frost.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Everlasting flower, scientifically known as Xerochrysum bracteatum, provides exceptional textural interest in the landscape due to its unique, papery bracts surrounding the central disk. Its outstanding quality is its ability to maintain color and shape after being dried, making it a favorite for everlasting arrangements. It is native to the open grasslands of Australia where it thrives in sunny conditions.
This species is valued for its low maintenance requirements and its extended bloom window, often flowering continuously from early summer straight through to the first hard frost. While technically a short-lived tender perennial in its native range (hardy in Zones 8-10), many gardeners treat Xerochrysum bracteatum as a vibrant annual. Its daisy-like blooms come in a cheerful palette including yellow, orange, red, pink, and white.
For gardeners seeking reliable color and materials for winter bouquets, the Strawflower (another common name for this plant) is an excellent choice. Its upright growth habit and dry tolerance make it simple to integrate into mixed borders or sunny patio containers. Enjoying full sun and tolerating drier soil confirms its status as a truly dependable summer performer.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Native Range: Australia
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 8-10
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-5 ft
- Spread: 0.5-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: June to frost
- Bloom Description: Yellow, orange, red, pink, white
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Xerochrysum bracteatum requires minimal fuss once established but needs a good start. It is easily grown in average soils that are dry to medium in moisture and must receive full sun for the best flowering performance, though it tolerates very light shade. If planting from seed, start indoors 6 to 8 weeks prior to your area’s last expected frost date, setting the young plants out only after all danger of frost has passed.
Watering should be consistent until the plant is established, after which its preference for dry to medium conditions means it handles brief dry spells well. Avoid overly rich or wet soils, which can weaken the stems. No significant fertilizing is usually required; too much nitrogen will encourage excessive foliage growth at the expense of blooms.
Taller varieties may benefit from staking, especially if grown in windy locations or planted in overly rich soil that promotes weak, rapid vertical growth. In colder regions where it is grown strictly as an annual, remove the plants at the end of the season. In Zones 8–10, cut back spent stems to tidy the plant before winter dormancy. Remember that while plants may self-seed, commercially available cultivars often do not produce true-to-type offspring from seed, so saving seed may result in varied colors or forms.
Landscape Uses
The versatility of the Everlasting flower makes it invaluable across many garden settings. Taller specimens excel when placed toward the back of perennial borders, adding vertical structure and sustained color throughout the summer. Conversely, dwarf varieties are perfectly suited for adding pops of color along pathways, functioning beautifully as crisp edging, or filling container gardens and window boxes where their dry tolerance is an advantage.
This plant fits seamlessly into cutting gardens. Its long vase life as a fresh cut flower is matched only by its fame as a dried material; the stiff, glossy bracts of Xerochrysum bracteatum hold their color exceptionally well when air-dried, yielding premium strawflowers for seasonal décor.
Consider pairing the vivid textures of the Everlasting flower with softer annuals or durable perennials that share similar full-sun and dry-soil preferences. They provide excellent contrast to fine-textured foliage or plants that offer deep purple or blue blooms, making the bright yellows, oranges, and reds of the Xerochrysum bracteatum truly stand out.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Dried
Noteworthy Characteristics
Xerochrysum bracteatum, commonly called strawflower, was formerly included in the genus Helichrysum or Bracteantha. It is a short-lived tender perennial or annual that is native to Australia where it grows in open grassland areas, often in sweeping drifts. It is considered to be one of the paper daisies because it features daisy-like flowers (1-3” diameter) with central yellow disks surrounded by glossy, papery, rigid, petal-like bracts. The flowers are sometimes commonly called golden everlasting in reference to their drying qualities, and they are commercially grown for the dried flower market.
Tolerances
- No known serious insect or disease problems.
Potential Problems
The primary management concern revolves around structure rather than disease. Taller varieties of the Everlasting flower may require staking, especially if they receive abundant water or fertilizer, which can lead to overly lush, weak growth that collapses. Prevent this by ensuring planting locations are sunny and soil moisture is maintained in the dry-to-medium range. Otherwise, the Xerochrysum bracteatum is known for being relatively pest-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Everlasting flower suitable for?
The Everlasting flower is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 8 through 10, though it is commonly grown as an annual in cooler climates.
How large does Xerochrysum bracteatum grow?
This plant exhibits variety, with species plants reaching up to 5 feet tall, while popular, modern cultivars often stay in the 2 to 3-foot range, with dwarf varieties available around 12 inches high. Spread generally ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 feet.
What sun exposure does the Strawflower need?
The plant requires full sun exposure for optimal performance and the best flower production. It can tolerate light shade but flowering will be reduced.
When does Easy Care annual bloom?
The flowers appear reliably beginning in June and continue blooming robustly until the first hard frost arrives, offering a spectrum of yellow, orange, red, pink, and white colors.
Conclusion
The resilience and unique texture of the Everlasting flower make it an indispensable element for summer landscapes and year-round décor. Whether you call it Strawflower or Xerochrysum bracteatum, its low maintenance nature and reliable bloom time offer significant gardening rewards. Check your local hardiness zone compatibility and plan to sow seeds indoors soon to enjoy these stunning golden everlasting blooms all season long.
Companion Planting
When placing Xerochrysum bracteatum in your garden, select companions that appreciate similar cultural needs: full sun and well-drained, drier soil. Plants like Lavender, Salvia nemorosa varieties, Yarrow (Achillea), or Russian Sage thrive alongside the Everlasting flower. These Mediterranean or drought-tolerant plants will not over-compete for moisture or fertility, ensuring your strawflowers develop strong, sturdy stems suitable for cutting.
Design Ideas
Utilize the vibrant colors of the Everlasting flower to create hot-toned drifts or high-contrast focal points. For a classic cottage feel, intersperse tall specimens between plants with fine, gray-green foliage, echoing the slightly gray-green leaves of the Xerochrysum bracteatum itself. In modern designs, use a monochromatic planting scheme, massing 12-inch dwarf varieties near the front of borders for a consistent, low-maintenance swath of singular color.
