Strawflower | Xerochrysum bracteatum
Unusual flower perfect for drying.
Those who think of flowers as soft and tender things are in for a surprise when they plant Strawflower. As its name suggests, its blooms are straw-like: crisp, papery, and sturdy. These are not botanical petals but are bracts, special leaves that draw in pollinators and stay colourful for years if stored somewhere dry (hence the flower's alias, Everlasting). Bring the colours of summer into your home to keep your gardening dreams alive all winter with these showy, festive blooms.
Direct sow after last frost, or sow indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost and then transplant after last frost. Plants enjoy full sun and tolerate poor, dry soil. Plants can reach heights of 3'. Cut often to promote bud formation. Dry flowers by cutting stems and hanging them upside down in small clusters.
Days to Germination 7-10
Days to Maturity 85
Planting Depth ½"
Spacing in Row 8-10"
Spacing Between Rows 36"
Height at Maturity 24-36"
Width at Maturity 8-10"
Sun Preference Full Sun
Artwork by Natalie Wargin. This digital design depicts one decorative way of drying these everlasting flowers: by hanging them upside down in a bundle, tied by a pretty red ribbon.
About Hudson Valley Seed Company
They are a values-driven seed company that practices and celebrates responsible seed production and stewardship. Hudson Valley are best known for their beautiful artist-design seed packs (Art Packs) that appeal to gardeners, gift buyers, and lovers of art and nature.
These Art Packs, most fundamentally, tell stories. Hudson Valley challenges artists to convey in a manner that is fully their own, the history and meaning of the seed variety contained in each pack. These stories were once integral to traditional societies-stories of seeds were often origin stories for entire communities and peoples, and the lore and beliefs that accumulated around seed varieties reflected the nearly familial way in which gardeners and farmers regarded their crops. Our society is, by and large, no longer connected to plants this way. But we like to think these Art Packs help to stitch our fragmented world back together: useful seeds, evocative art, both equally valuable to our experience of being human.