What do strawflower seeds require?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

November 13, 2003

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Cornflower, Gerbera Daisy Collection—>Click here.

Gaillardia, Pincushion Scabiosa Collection—>Click here.

The immortelle, strawflower, or golden everlasting daisy (Xerochrysum bracteatum (Ventenat) Tzvelev) is native to Australia. In their native habitat, the plants grow in sandy or gravelly soils in open grasslands. The plant was introduced to English gardeners in 1799. The golden everlasting daisy was originally named Xeranthemum bracteatum by Étienne Pierre Ventenat in 1803. Over the years, it was placed in the genera Helichrysum and Bracteantha.

Strawflower – For Dried Bouquets! – Curling petals top 30-inch stems, hold tightly after drying. Strawflowers are bold red-yellow-orange-and-white mix. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Flower & Grass Seed!]

Like the sunflower, the 'flower' of the strawflower is actually an inflorescence composed of a disk of florets. The strawflower has about one hundred florets per inflorescence. But unlike the sunflower, the obvious 'petals' are not ray florets. The involucral bracts that subtend the inflorescences of most members of the daisy family are green and overlapping. The strawflower's bracts are modified--glossy, papery, and yellow.

The strawflower is perennial where winters are mild (light frosts) and treated as an annual where winters are severe. The inflorescences retain their color when cut and dried for flower arrangements, hence the names everlasting or immortelle. (Hortus Third, Staff Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium, Cornell University, Macmillan Publishing Co., 1976)

Strawflowers are considered easy to grow and reliable bloomers from spring through autumn. But the seeds have an unusual requirement. They must be exposed to light and will not germinate if buried in the soil.

Net-Garden has several photographs of strohblume, strawflower, or immortelle. To view the flowers, click on the link:

http://www.net-garden.de/Foto-Seiten/Strohblume.html

Click on the bilder (photo) numbers to see various varieties of strawflowers.

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Cornflower-One Cent Sale!

Springhill Nursery®

Cornflower adds a touch of pink to the garden all summer long. Button-like flowers on 18" stems, complemented by gray-green leaves, are hardy and drought-tolerant.

#1 field-grown plant. Deer tend to avoid.

Centaurea dealbata

Zone 4 to 8

The deeply fringed flowers are held in attractive heavily fringed bracts. This is a very drought resistant plant and very resilient to many climatic and growing situations. It makes a strong accent in the garden and is lovely as a cut flower. This is a rare color form. Also good for naturalizing in grass areas or wildflower gardens. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery! [More Garden Perennials!]

African Sunset Gerbera Daisy Collection

Springhill Nursery®

Bring the vivid colors of a South African sunset to your garden, patio and vase!

Our specifically cultivated gerberas come in all the vivid colors of a Transvaal sunset; ruddy red, flame orange, evening sky pink, sunny yellow and cloud white. The large and velvety, daisylike blooms dance above a cushion of soft, lush foliage on thick, sturdy stems.

Often the flower form is so perfect and uniform that they may be mistaken for artificial flowers. But these very real and very eye-catching 4 1/2+" blooms grow with abandon and last all summer long! Each plant grows to a height of 12-18" with a 12-15" spread.

So Many Possibilities.
Versatile, easy-to-grow gerberas add new flare to a traditional landscape planting. They're an exciting alternative to standard bedding plants such as marigolds, petunias and salvia. Planted in your garden, they will attract bees and butterflies, but not deer. In planters, window boxes and pots, gerberas provide non-stop color: They're also long-lasting in the vase - professional florists love them for cut-flower arrangements and so will you. Try the African Sunset Gerbera Daisy Collection for yourself and you will unlock new creative possibilities!

One collection includes one each of the following five varieties:

Cloud White
Sunny Yellow
Flame Orange
Evening Sky Pink
Ruddy Red

Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery! [More Garden Perennials!]

Gaillardia, Dwarf

Springhill Nursery®

Showy little plant adds vivid color late spring till frost. Flowers burst from compact 15" tall clumps. Dark green foliage appears on the Dwarf Gaillardia. Space 10-12" apart.

Shipped in 3" pot. Deer tend to avoid.

Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Goblin'

Zone 3 to 10 Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery! [More Garden Perennials!]

Pincushion Scabiosa Collection

Springhill Nursery®

In this exclusive collection, you’ll receive three each of these exceptional varieties of Scabiosa:

PERFECT WHITE: Every perennial garden deserves a touch of white, so why not settle for perfection! This long-time proven garden performer in a soft shimmering white produces a multitude of 2-3 inch blossoms on slender stems from mid-spring to fall with a low rosette of foliage. Grows 18-30" tall and spreads 12-18".

PINK MIST: As delicate and romantic as its name, Pink Mist will tempt you to create bouquets with a subtle, pleasing fragrance. You’ll be amazed at the abundance of perfect 2-1/2 inch blooms from spring to fall in a true soft pink against a rosette of foliage. And you'll like the fact that they're only 12-18" tall and grow in tidy 12" clusters.

YELLOW SUN: Kissed by the sun to create one of the prettiest shades of yellow you’ll ever see. And for scabiosa, this hue is quite uncommon. Compact size makes it a real standout in front of borders. 2-3 inch mid-spring to fall blossoms held on dainty stems. Reaches 18-30" high and spreads 12-18". Dark green dissected foliage.

YOUR FREE GIFT – BUTTERFLY BLUE: You’ll love it as much as the butterflies who are attracted to its intense lavender-blue color and pleasing fragrance. Profuse 2-1/2 inch flowers continue from spring to fall. Handsome rosette of medium green foliage. Grows 12 inches tall and spreads 12 inches across – ideal to edge paths and borders. 3 FREE with every collection you buy! Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery! [More Garden Perennials!]