Strawflower

Thankfully, plant breeders are now cultivating Strawflowers in soft, elegant tones and shades. They are so beautiful and unique that they even have a place now as a wedding flower.

Xerochrysum bracteatum

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.

• ‘Bright Bikini’
  Dwarf form up to 15″ with multiple colors available.
• ‘Cockatoo’
  Perennial similar to ‘Dargan Hill Monarch’, pale yellow bracts around a head of small orange flowers.
• ‘Dargan Hill Monarch’
  Perennial with grey leaves and yellow flowers.
• ‘Diamond Head’
  Perennial with green foliage and yellow flowers.
• ‘Forever Mix’
  Rich mixed colors with a height of up to 3′.
• ‘Kimberly Sunset’
  Perennial with grey leave and pink flowers.
• ‘Kingsize Mixed’
  Larger flowers, heights to 3′.
• ‘Princess of Wales’
  Perennial similar to ‘Dargan Hill Monarch’, more compact, yellow flowers.

• ‘Bright Bikini’
  Dwarf form up to 15″ with multiple colors available.
• ‘Cockatoo’
  Perennial similar to ‘Dargan Hill Monarch’, pale yellow bracts around a head of small orange flowers.
• ‘Dargan Hill Monarch’
  Perennial with grey leaves and yellow flowers.
• ‘Diamond Head’
  Perennial with green foliage and yellow flowers.
• ‘Forever Mix’
  Rich mixed colors with a height of up to 3′.
• ‘Kimberly Sunset’
  Perennial with grey leave and pink flowers.
• ‘Kingsize Mixed’
  Larger flowers, heights to 3′.
• ‘Princess of Wales’
  Perennial similar to ‘Dargan Hill Monarch’, more compact, yellow flowers.

• Attributes: Genus: Xerochrysum Species: bracteatum Family: Asteraceae Life Cycle: Annual Perennial Recommended Propagation Strategy: Seed Stem Cutting Country Or Region Of Origin: Australia Wildlife Value: Attracts butterflies, bees and birds. Play Value: Attractive Flowers Attracts Pollinators Easy to Grow Textural Dimensions: Height: 1 ft. 0 in. – 5 ft. 0 in. Width: 0 ft. 6 in. – 1 ft. 6 in.

• Whole Plant Traits: Plant Type: Annual Perennial Habit/Form: Clumping Growth Rate: Medium Maintenance: Low Texture: Medium

• Cultural Conditions: Light: 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 To Plant: 12 inches-3 feet NC Region: Coastal USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

• Flowers: Flower Color: Gold/Yellow Orange Pink Red/Burgundy White Flower Inflorescence: Head Flower Value To Gardener: Good Cut Good Dried Long Bloom Season Long-lasting Showy Flower Bloom Time: Fall Summer Flower Shape: Radial Flower Petals: Bracts Flower Size: 1-3 inches Flower Description: 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.

• Leaves: Leaf Color: Gray/Silver Green Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Leaf Shape: Elliptical Lanceolate Oblanceolate Hairs Present: Yes Leaf Length: 3-6 inches Leaf Width: < 1 inch Leaf Description: Gray-green lance-shaped leaves up to 5" long. The hairs feel like a cobweb.

• Stem: Stem Color: Green Stem Is Aromatic: No Stem Form: Straight Stem Description: Erect stems.

• Landscape: Landscape Location: Container Rock Wall Landscape Theme: Butterfly Garden Cottage Garden Cutting Garden Pollinator Garden Rock Garden Design Feature: Border Attracts: Bees Butterflies Pollinators Resistance To Challenges: Deer

Xerochrysum bracteatum

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How to Grow: Strawflowers

Strawflowers are having a bit of a revival these days and I’m happy to see that!

I’ll admit, when I started growing flowers and thought of Strawflowers, I could only think of the harsh, gaudy dried flower arrangements I saw growing up in the 80’s. Blech.

Thankfully, plant breeders are now cultivating Strawflowers in soft, elegant tones and shades. They are so beautiful and unique that they even have a place now as a wedding flower.

Strawflowers are considered an “Everlasting Flower” and once they are dried, you can use them for years. I decorate my house all winter with dried Strawflowers…. And they are excellent as a “wearable” flower, for flower crowns, corsages or boutonnieres.

Let’s look at the Pros and Cons of growing Strawflowers for cut flower use.

• They come in a multitude of colors and sizes.
• They are easy to grow and actually thrive in poorer soils.
• The plants are productive for a long period of time.
• They have a long vase life of over 7 days.
• They are an “Everlasting Flower”.

• They are susceptible to Aster Yellows, a disease spread by leaf hoppers.
• They can be tricky to germinate. Fresh seed from a reputable source is essential.

CHOOSING SEEDS

Strawflowers come in a variety of colors, so it really comes down to personal preference.

Personally, I prefer the pastel shades, as they are easier to incorporate into bouquets and arrangements, but the brighter colors have their place too.

Here are a few of my favorite Strawflowers to grow for cut flower use:

HOW TO SOW

Strawflowers are slightly cold hardy (they will survive a few light frosts in the fall), but we generally wait until after the last spring frost to put out the transplants. They are not fussy about soil conditions and in fact seem to prefer “poor” soil.

Transplants or Direct Sow?

For people with shorter growing seasons (like us in Michigan), transplants are recommended. Start the seeds indoors about 3-5 weeks before your last spring frost and transplant outside after the last frost.

Strawflower can be direct sown in climates with a long growing season. Direct sow after the last spring frost.

PLANT SPACING

Plants should be spaced at 9-12”. The plants can grow up to 4 feet tall, so netting may be required if you live in a windy area.

Strawflowers are quite unsightly looking plants, so they might not be a plant you want to grow in a prominent spot.

GROWING ON

Like all direct sown or transplanted seedlings, be sure the plants have consistent watering when they are small and getting established.

By the time the plants are large enough to bloom, they are quite self reliant. Deep watering once a week should be sufficient (water until soil is saturated as far down as you can stick your finger in the soil).

Pinch the plants when they are about a foot tall. This causes the plant to branch out and produce way more blooms.

If flowers are harvested and spent blooms are “deadheaded” (removed), the plants will continue to send up blooms until frost or cold weather arrives.