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Strawflower Wikimedia Commons
Asteraceae

Strawflower

Xerochrysum bracteatum

Everlasting memory and undying love.

Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Xerochrysum
Native to
Australia
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
annual or short-lived perennial
Height
30–90 cm
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
well-drained, sandy to loamy
Water
low to moderate
Hardiness
8–11
Lifespan
annual in most climates

Did you know

  • What appear to be petals are actually papery bracts that retain their color and shape when dried, hence 'everlasting.'
  • The bracts open and close with humidity changes even after being cut and dried.
  • It was reclassified from Helichrysum to Xerochrysum in 1990, though the old name persists in horticulture.
  • Strawflowers are the most popular flowers used in Australian native dried flower arrangements.
  • The golden-yellow form is so vivid that the genus name Xerochrysum literally means 'dry gold.'

Color meanings

0

eternal love

1

immortality

2

lasting memory

Uses

  • dried flower arrangements
  • cut flowers
  • cottage gardens
  • borders
  • everlasting bouquets