Need a resilient, multipurpose bloom? Look no further than Helichrysum. Also known as Strawflower, Helichrysum is a tender annual from the Asteraceae family. The genus is Xerochrysum and species is X. bracteatum. Helichrysum are quite hardy and offer bright colors with very long stems and a small yet impactful pop in mixed bouquets.. The strong saturation of yellows, salmon, orange, magenta & pinks make Helichrysum a tried and true selection by floral designers for dried flowers.

After hardening off in real sunlight and cool temperatures - plant directly into cool soil very soon after the first frost. Hailing from Australia - these strawflowers love it really warm to bloom, but the cool temperatures in the Spring and cold (not frozen) soil are the perfect start. Furthermore Helichrysum will last all the way into the first frost or two in the Fall. Helichrysum thrive best in full sun and don’t have a particular requirement for long or short days - meaning they will thrive in many zones! What a versatile & affable flower!

Helichrysum are best planted 10 - 12” apart. While they don’t require netting, they are apt to grow upwards of 4’ tall, so staking and netting can be a great support. Pinching down 3 or 4 sets of leaves once when the plant is 12” tall will help it grow outward branches with more prolific blooms. As previously mentioned, Helichrysum are quite hardy so it’s hardly a surprise they don’t often interface with pests. That said, while they certainly need water, they don’t like it too wet (remember those Australian roots stated earlier?!)

You can expect to see Helichrysum flowers 75-85 days after planting the plugs. Harvest before you can see the center disk in the middle of the flower. Just as the color starts to uncurl and the first few layers appear, it’s time to cut.This is especially important if you are hanging them to dry. Placing promptly in fresh water will lead to vase life of 1 week, and if you intend to dry them, upside down is best. Continue to deadhead so that your blooms prevail from Spring through the end of Fall.