Strawflower – Helichrysum bracteatum
This is a great choice flower for drying. A colorful bouquet of strawflowers from the garden preserves a little bit of summer during the dark and colorless winter months. Strawflowers are among the most popular and best known everlastings.
Australian Natives
Strawflowers are native to the acrid plains of Australia. Because their brilliant colors last even when the flowers are dried, they have become favorites among flowers for perserving. They are idel for use in long-lasting bouquets.
The flowers themselvs are actually very tiny; what is remarkable about the strawflowers is the stiff, papery bracts that suround the tiny flowers. Through selective hybridization, varieties that are especially large and colorful have been developed.
Many Colors
“Monstrosum” is a cultivarthat has flower heads that measure up to 3 inches across and come in a variety of brilliant colors, except for blue. Different varieties are red, rose, purple, salmon, white, and yellow. Cultivars of the ‘Bikini’ series grow only 12 inches tall and are ideal for borders and rock gardens. They are heavily branching, bushy plants that are also successful as low-growing ground covers and as flowers for drying. A very colorful cultivar is the fire-engine-red ‘Hot Bikini.’ ‘Golden Bikini’ is bright yellow, ‘Bright Bikini’ is a mix of all the available colors and is great for dried arrangements.
Timely Cutting
If you are going to use strawflowers as dried flowers, don’t wait until the flower heads have completely opened to cut them. Because they continue to mature while dryikng. the flower heads will open too far, exposing the hairy and un-attractive centers. In some instances, seeds may even mature and drop out. Strawflowers that have matured to this stage are useless in bouquets. The flowers have literally gone to seed and your efforts willhave been in vain.
The best time to cut Strawflowers is when the first bracts have just begun to open. You can cut the flower head alone or with the entire stem. If you cut the stems, tie them in bunches and hang them, head down, in a dark, well-ventilated room. Turn the bunches regularly until the flowers are uniformly dry. Only then should they be used in dried flwer arrangements.
Easy to Cultivate
In their native environs, Strawflowers are accustomed to a great deal of sun and often to drought. In areas where summers are wet, they suffer more from too much moisture than from too little. Ongoing precipitation retards plant growth, diminishes flower production, and encourages mildew, rot, and related diseases.
Strawflowers are very easy to cultivate. They grow best in light, sandy soil that is quick to warm up, and they are most advantegeously locatd in a hot sunny spot in the garden. Southern exposure is ideal. Even during prolonged dry spells they do not need to be watered. Only when young plants are transplanted should they lightly watered. Fertilizing is not necessary; in fact, Strawflowers do best in poor soil. If the soil is too rich, the plants develop abundant foliage but few flowers.
Starting Seeds
For early and abundant blooming, Strawflowers should be started in a cold frame in early spring. Sow seeds in rows. You will have stronger, healthier plants if you transplant the seedlings to individual small pots after the seeds have germinated. In mid-spring, after all danger of frost has passed, set out young plants in the garden and space them 8 to 12 inches apart. In a very warm and sunny region, advance cultivation can be dispensed with seeds can be sown directly in the spot where they are to grow in the garden.
In Summary:
Location:Strawflowers need a sunny warm, and dry location. Low-growing varieties are ideal for border, beds and cutting gardens.
Soil: The most beautiful blooms will be produced on loose, sandy soil. Exceedingly fertile soil producees lush foliage at the expense of flowers.
Culture: Sow seeds in a cold fram in eary spring or directly in the garden in mid-spring. For dried flowers, cut stems before the Strawflowers have fully opened.
Decorative Dry Flower Suggestion
Dried Strawflowers can be used in a number of ways. Their little flower heads can be inserted in styrofoam balls, pyramids, or wreaths,. In a vase they are attractive in dried arrangements together with statice, thistles, and ornamental grasses, or with baby’s breath.
flowering | SunGrower | 
March 24, 2009 4:26 pm | 
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