The straw flower (helichrysum) is a plant species with more than 600 known subspecies. Therefore, the sensitivity to frost depends on the respective species and cannot be specified for the entire genus.

Some strawflower species are hardy

Perennial and hardy varieties get through the winter better

Some subspecies of the helichrysum are explicitly offered in specialist shops as frost-resistant and hardy. These are often species that also occur naturally in Europe or hybrids that are derived from natural species in Europe. With targeted care, you can help these plants to sprout vigorously again in the same spot in the garden the following spring. To do this, cut the plants back to the ground in autumn and cover their root area with some brushwood and leaves. In this way, the plant roots are not only better protected from the winter cold, but also from excess moisture.

Bring annual immortelle indoors

Some hobby gardeners would also like to increase the lifespan of their beloved straw flowers from the very frost-sensitive species. In particular, the straw flowers, which grow compactly and in pots, can be brought onto the windowsill in autumn. But there are also other ways to bring the blooms of straw flowers into the house a little more permanently. After all, everlasting flowers keep their original flower colors relatively well even when they dry. Please note, however, that you should cut off the helichrysum blossoms intended for dried bouquets before they have fully blossomed.

Simply grow straw flowers yourself from seeds

The end of the gardening season does not have to mean farewell forever for the annual species of helichrysum either. If the plants don't spread in your garden by self-sowing anyway, you can also help a little yourself. You can either grow immortelle in seed soil on the windowsill from March or sow the seeds directly outdoors from the ice saints. When sowing immortelle, the following factors generally apply:

  • they are dark germs (although the seeds should only be covered thinly with soil)
  • don't sow too densely
  • never let the substrate dry out completely during the germination phase
  • germination takes about 2 weeks

tips

In order for the hardy varieties of straw flower to survive the winter, some watering should be done when there is a cold frost and winter protection from mulch, leaves and twigs should be provided.

Category:

Herbs