Some flowers are just so different from everything you have grown previously that they are worth just planting for the fun of it. Strawflower is one such plant.
The papery leaves, longevity, and colors make strawflowers a special treat in the garden.
See if you can resist touching the blooms and listening to the dry, papery rustle of the petals. Add to that the multitude of colors, textures, and layers added to cut flower arrangements, and you have an amazing flower.
If you’ve heard that strawflowers are challenging to grow, let’s dispel that myth right now.
What are Strawflowers?
Strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum) are Australian natives with unique papery flowers that add texture and color to any garden or flower arrangement.
It is also known as the everlasting daisy due to its ability to retain color over long periods. They have double blooms and a rosebud center and come in many colors and color combinations.
The petals are technically modified leaves known as bracts. Inside the bracts are disk flowers, and these are the true flowers of the plant. But we call all of the colorful bracts “the flower” even if that’s not what they truly are.
The leaves and stems are usually hairy, helping the plant avoid drying out in the Australian sun, making them a good choice in warm, dry areas.
Despite their pretty appearance, these plants are tough once established. They can be grown as annuals, but in warm areas, they are perennial and self-seed easily if you let them.
Strawflowers do best in USDA Growing Zones 8 to 11.
6 Of Our Favorite Cultivars of Strawflowers
There are so many choices of strawflowers that it would be impossible to list them all. Many retailers simply sell them in mixes of colors and cultivars. For example, Burpee sells a mix of taller strawflowers at Amazon.
Seeds Needs sells a colorful blend in a more traditional height, also available at Amazon. Or, if pink and apricot are your thing, Dave’s Seeds on Amazon sells a pack of pretty apricot hues.
Here are some of our favorites that show you different colors and sizes.
Bright Rose
Perfect for dry, warm areas as it is heat and drought-tolerant. Butterflies love ‘Bright Rose,’ and all strawflowers, so leave them in the garden to attract pollinator friends. Or pick for them or colorful flower arrangements.
This strawflower is also perfect for drying as it will retain its full, deep color. Snag a packet of seeds from Amazon.
Swiss Giant
Double the height, double the bloom numbers, and double the petals. With so much to give, there is nothing to dislike about ‘Swiss Giant.’ There are a variety of colors, so you will often find this type available as a mixed packet of seeds.
Golden Yellow
For a hit of bright yellow with an orange center and orange hues on the back of the bloom, ‘Golden Yellow’ should be your choice. The bright yellow will remain bright after picking and drying. Pick up a pack of seeds at Amazon.
Vintage White
There a number of white strawflower cultivars. Some are all white, some have a tinge of yellow in the center. There is a type simply called ‘White,’ and it’s, as you might imagine, all white. It fits perfectly into gardens and arrangements with bright colors and hues.
Then there’s ‘Vintage White.’ This heirloom cultivar has big, double blossoms in a pure white hue. It’s a reliable, profuse bloomer. Grab a packet at Amazon.
Purple Red
It’s a simple name for a stunning cultivar. Think magenta, crimson, and red all in one, with the varying hues surrounding a yellow center. It is eye-catching and appealing to pollinators and humans alike. You can find the seeds at Amazon.
Tom Thumbs
There are a variety of dwarf or “Tom Thumb” strawflowers, and often they are sold in mixed packets of seeds labeled as such.
They come in a range of colors and are perfect for those little gaps in the garden where other plants don’t fill or grow in. They will max out at about 15 inches tall, but still produce plenty of blooms.
Propagating Strawflowers
Strawflowers are best grown from seed, either from what you have gathered from the plant, or purchased. They can be started indoors or directly sown into the garden.
Let’s look at how to plant strawflower seeds and then how to collect them to provide you with a continuous supply for years to come.
Collecting Seeds
This is super easy to do and quite fun. Like many plants, strawflowers tell you they are ready for seed collection. They turn the center of the bloom fluffy.
Pull at this fluff and you will see a tiny seed with a fluffy end.
These seeds are dry and clean, so they can be stored in paper envelopes straight away, and being hardy annuals or perennials, they can be collected one season and sown the next.
The only trick is to get to them before the wind scatters them, so keep an eye on your plants.
Sowing Indoors
Strawflowers germinate best if you start them indoors unless you live in a warm climate in Zone 8 or above.
You should sow them about eight weeks before the projected last frost in your area. If you mistime it, don’t worry because you can just keep the plant indoors for a little longer.
Fill cells or pots with quality seed starter. Moisten the soil with a spray bottle and sow the seeds on top without covering them. Light speeds up the germination of strawflower seeds, so you don’t want to bury them.
Keep the seeds and soil moist with regular spritzes of water, and you should see germination within about ten days.
Keep the germinated seeds in light for about 16 hours a day. Indirect sunlight through a window is sufficient, but you can also use supplemental lighting.
Once big enough to transfer, harden them off for a couple of weeks before planting outdoors in late spring.
Direct Sowing
If you have a long enough growing season, direct sowing is the easier route. Only do this when all danger of frost has passed. Frost will kill the seeds or seedlings.
Dig the soil and loosen it to a depth of about 10 inches. Work in some well-rotted compost so the top six inches are loose and an equal mixture of soil and compost.
Distribute the seeds on top of the soil and sprinkle with water. Keep the soil moist as you wait for germination to happen.
Once germinated and about three inches tall, thin out to around 12 inches apart.
How to Care For Strawflowers
Choose a sunny spot in your garden. In fact, the sunniest spot is best. Strawflowers will tolerate semi-shade, but they won’t bloom as much.
Make sure the soil is loamy and drains well. Strawflowers aren’t fussy when it comes to soil, but provide the best you can. Hard, compacted soil makes it difficult for strawflowers to grow well.
A neutral soil is best, so keep the pH around 5.5 to 6.5.
Fertilizer isn’t necessary, but a feed with a flower-specific fertilizer every six weeks can be beneficial for blooms and longevity.
When planting the strawflower seedlings, it’s smart to place raised netting so the plants grow through it. Strawflowers tend to lean over early in their growth, causing an “L” shape stem rather then upright if not supported by netting or similar.
Provide up to an inch of water weekly if the natural rainfall doesn’t reach that level. A rain gauge can help you figure out how much moisture you’re receiving. Remember, these plants grow in hot, dry regions so you should err on the side of dry rather than wet.
In other words, don’t let the roots sit in soggy, over-wet soil. This will cause rot.
As with many flowers, you should deadhead after blooming to extend the amount of time the plant will produce flowers. When you’re ready to harvest the seeds, stop deadheading so the flower can produce them.
Strawflowers thrive in temperatures of 60ºF at night and up to 70ºF during the day, but they can tolerate beyond this range. They will die in frost.
Growing Strawflowers in Containers
Strawflowers do well in containers and make a colorful addition to balconies, patios, and decks.
Tall cultivars like ‘Swiss Giant’ may not be suitable for containers, but any dwarf variety will do.
Make sure the container gets at least eight hours of sunshine a day. Water regularly so the plant doesn’t dry out, but don’t let the soil become too wet. Good drainage is important so be sure to use a container with ample drainage holes.
Feed once a month or use a sustained-release fertilizer in the potting soil.
Companion Planting for Strawflowers
When it comes to companion planting, you can put pretty much anything that has similar growing needs with strawflowers.
For example, both zinnia and strawflower have similar requirements in terms of sun hours, fertilizer and water.
Rudbeckia, aka black-eyed Susans, are possibly the perfect companion for strawflowers. They have similar requirements and color schemes that complement each other beautifully.
Nigella is easy to grow surrounding your strawflower garden and adds a wonderful hue.
Marigolds can fill in around the taller cultivars and they help keep pests away.
Cosmos are equally drought-tolerant and are fun to have around.
Potential Problems for Growing Strawflowers
Strawflowers suffer from few pests or diseases, particularly if you keep the watering situation under control.
Aster Yellows
This is a disease that can infect many plants, so keep an eye out on nearby plants. You will notice yellow leaves, small and deformed blooms, thin, weak stems, and death of the plant.
This is spread by the aster leafhopper (Macrosteles quadrilineatus) so make sure you include the strawflowers in any exclusion or insecticide spray program you have.
Some people opt to use a regular spray of neem oil throughout the season to kill any leafhoppers that come around. Our guide has more tips on controlling leafhoppers.
Downy Mildew
This condition is known in areas of high rainfall and humidity.
Downy mildew is a common disease among many species, but as long as you provide plenty of airflow between plants and don’t allow the roots to sit in wet soil, you should be able to avoid it.
Regular sprays of neem oil go some way to avoiding the issue, but you can learn more tips in our guide.
Root Rot
This usually occurs due to the soil around the plant not draining, and the roots end up sitting in wet soil. The plant will be stunted and begin to yellow before dying.
Avoid hard compacted soil that holds too much water. It should be free-draining but hold the moisture in.
Picking and Drying Strawflowers
Harvest strawflowers when the heads are still slightly closed. During the drying process, the flowers will open fully.
If you wait for the flowers to open on the plant and then dry them, they become too fluffy. The petals will curl down and go to seed.
Cut the stems as long as possible. Remove the foliage on the bottom third of the stem. Leave some at the top to dry with the flower, and you will get some lovely curly-shaped leaves. They will become crisp and some will fall off to the touch.
Tie the flowers together in groups of five to ten, depending on the flower head size.
Find a low-light area with good airflow and hang them upside down. This area should be low humidity if possible.
Don’t hang them against a wall because the air won’t circulate properly, and you will end up with brown or moldy stems.
After three weeks, the strawflower should be completely dry. Touch it and listen to the papery sound.
Store them in airtight but breathable containers, or leave them hanging where you dried them until you use them.
You can also cut strawflowers and use them straight away in a vase or as a part of an arrangement.