Xerochrysum bracteatum: Discover the Radiant Charm of Everlasting Daisy

Overview

Xerochrysum bracteatum, more affectionately known as Everlasting Daisy, is one of Australia’s most delightful and uplifting native blooms. Its vivid papery flowers in various dazzling colours light up gardens like living confetti.

True to its common name, Everlasting Daisy lives up to its reputation with long flowering periods and long-lasting flowers after picking, making it highly desirable in gardens and as cut or dried flowers.

Xerochrysum bracteatum is a cheerful all-rounder. It works beautifully in native garden designs, cottage borders, wildflower meadows, and even pots and balcony boxes. Mass-planted, it creates a spectacle of colour that attracts native pollinators.

Origin and distribution

Xerochrysum bracteatum is an enduring emblem of Australia’s floral diversity, with its origins deeply rooted in the continent’s varied landscapes. It naturally occurs across all states with diverse climates.

This wide distribution reflects its incredible ecological flexibility. Its success lies in its adaptability to a broad range of growing conditions. Its ability to regenerate quickly from seed after the wildfire highlights its natural resilience.

The plant was introduced to Europe in the late 1700s. Subsequent development of diverse colours and forms has further boosted its overseas appeal. Currently, the species is enjoying worldwide popularity.

Growth and care

Xerochrysum bracteatum thrives across a wide range of Australian climates, including arid, semi-arid, temperate, subalpine, and subtropical. Although the plant generally prefers low to moderate humidity, it can grow in specific tropical environments due to its exceptional adaptability.

This widespread distribution sees it thriving in diverse environments, from the edges of rainforests to the harsh conditions of deserts and the cool, elevated mountainous regions.

Xerochrysum bracteatum displays a fascinating duality in its annual versus perennial status. It is a short-lived perennial, which can persist 2 – 3 years or longer in favourable growing conditions.

Conversely, it is often cultivated as an annual plant for magnificent summer blooms in colder regions, where heavy frosts in winter can become overwhelming.

The plant exhibits excellent heat tolerance, flourishing in warm to hot conditions. With high drought tolerance, it requires much less watering than most flowering plants. These attributes make it perfect for summer colours in waterwise gardens.

Xerochrysum bracteatum naturally thrives in well-drained soils, a key requirement for its health and longevity. This preference is evident across its native habitats. To ensure cultivation success, good soil drainage is paramount.

To improve soil drainage, amend heavier clay soils with organic matter, compost, and coarse sand or grit. A mildly acidic to neutral pH (5.5 – 6.5) is preferred.

The plant exhibits good tolerance to wind and a degree of salt spray. However, highly exposed frontline positions might test its limits. Choosing a resilient cultivar can significantly enhance its performance in coastal landscapes.

Xerochrysum bracteatum has evolved in nutrient-poor soils across much of its native range. This inherent adaptation means it is not a heavy feeder and generally has low fertilisation needs.

Features

Xerochrysum bracteatum offers a wealth of features that make it an exceptional choice for various landscaping applications. Its vibrant, papery, long-lasting flowers are arguably its most striking attribute, coming in a wide spectrum of colours including yellows, golds, oranges, reds, pinks, whites, and even purples.

Interestingly, what we perceive as petals are actually bracts – specialised, papery structures surrounding the tiny true flowers in the centre. Unlike delicate petals, these bracts are dry, rigid, and naturally resistant to wilting, allowing them to maintain their shape and vibrant colour long after blooming.

These unique bracts retain the integrity of the flower for extended periods after being picked, making the plant highly popular in the cut or dried flower industry.

It can be incredibly versatile. Its growth habit varies from low groundcovers to compact shrubs (0.3 – 1.2 metres tall), allowing it to fit into diverse spaces. It excels in mass plantings, creating dramatic swathes of continuous colour, or as a vibrant border plant.

Many cultivars have been developed, offering improved forms, more compact habits, and an even wider array of flower colours, allowing for tailored landscape designs.

Beyond aesthetics, it offers significant ecological benefits. Its cheerful, daisy-like blooms are a magnet for butterflies, native bees, hoverflies, and other beneficial insects, contributing to local biodiversity.

Everlastings compared

While Xerochrysum bracteatum (Everlasting Daisy) and Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Common Everlasting) are both beloved for their stunning blooms, they have several key differences.

• Size and form: Xerochrysum bracteatum is larger and more upright, with a more substantial overall appearance. Chrysocephalum apiculatum is a smaller, more sprawling, ground-hugging plant, often forming a weed-suppressing dense mat.
• Flowers: Xerochrysum bracteatum‘s flowers are daisy-like and larger because of the papery bracts. They come in various colours. Chrysocephalum apiculatum features much smaller, rounded, button-like yellow flowerheads in profusion.
• Foliage: Xerochrysum bracteatum‘s leaves are often longer, spear-shaped, and mid to dark green. In contrast, Chrysocephalum apiculatum has narrower, shorter silvery grey or grey-green foliage.

Nevertheless, both are hardy Australian daisies that prefer similar growing conditions and produce long-lasting blooms. Both work beautifully as border plants or in mass plantings.

FAQs

Do everlasting daisies self-seed?

Yes, everlasting daisies (Xerochrysum bracteatum) are well-known for their ability to self-seed readily when growing conditions are favourable. This contributes to their success in both natural environments and cultivated gardens.

Once established, they can often pop up year after year, especially if some spent flower heads are left on the plant to mature and release their seeds. This natural propagation can lead to delightful informal drifts and a continuous display, mimicking their wildflower meadow tendencies.

Is Xerochrysum Bracteatum a perennial or annual?

Xerochrysum bracteatum (everlasting daisy or strawflower) can be either a perennial or an annual, depending significantly on the specific growing conditions, particularly the climate.

• Perennial: In its native Australian habitats, especially in warmer temperate to subtropical zones with mild winters, it typically behaves as a short-lived perennial, lasting 2 to 3 years, and sometimes a bit longer. Many cultivated forms and named varieties are specifically bred for perennial performance.
• Annual: In regions with harsh winters or consistently high humidity, they are often grown as annuals. This means they complete their life cycle and die back after one growing season, typically after flowering from spring to autumn. Their ability to self-seed can then provide new plants for the following year.

How long do everlasting daisies last?

Everlasting daisies (Xerochrysum bracteatum) have a variable lifespan depending on the specific growing conditions and whether they are annual or perennial (See above).

Are everlasting daisies easy to grow?

Yes, everlasting daisies (Xerochrysum bracteatum) are generally considered very easy to grow, especially in climates that suit their preferences. This makes them a fantastic choice for gardeners of all experience levels.

What to do with everlastings after flowering?

What to do with everlasting daisies (Xerochrysum bracteatum) after they’ve finished flowering largely depends on your preference.

• Allow to self-seed: If you want new plants to pop up next season with minimal effort, simply leave the spent flower heads on the plant. The seeds will mature and eventually drop to the ground, ready to germinate when conditions are right. This is a common practice in naturalistic or wildflower gardens.
• Collect seeds: If you want to control where the new plants grow, or if you wish to share seeds, wait until the flowers have completely dried out, lost their colour, and the seeds are visibly ready to fall. You can then snip them off and collect the tiny seeds. Store them in a paper bag in a cool, dry place for planting next year.
• Prune Back: For perennial forms of Xerochrysum bracteatum, you can prune the plant back more significantly after the main flush of flowering has finished. This encourages new growth, helps maintain a compact shape, and can even promote a second, smaller flush of flowers.
• Harvest for dried flowers: If you intend to use the flowers in dried arrangements (where their ‘everlasting’ quality truly shines), pick the blooms when they are still relatively fresh or have just fully opened. Remove the leaves, tie them in small bundles, and hang them upside down in a cool, dark, airy place for 2 – 3 weeks until completely dry.

Can you grow strawflowers in pots?

Yes, absolutely! Strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum) are very well-suited to growing in pots.

In fact, container growing can often provide the ideal conditions for them, especially if your garden soil isn’t perfectly drained. The key factors that make them great for pots are:

• Drainage control: Choose a pot with drainage holes and use a well-draining potting mix.
• Sunlight: Ensure your plants receive full sun exposure or at least part-shade.
• Humidity: In humid climates, ceramic pots can allow for better air circulation around the plant, which helps mitigate fungal issues.

When to plant strawflowers?

The best time to plant strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum) is after the danger of frost has completely passed in spring, typically from late September through November in temperate regions of Australia.

If growing from seed, sow directly into the garden or pots during this period. You can also start seeds indoors 6 – 8 weeks before the last expected frost to get a head start on the growing season.