It is considered the incarnation of the long-lived dried flower. Already in the bed, the helichrysum develops papery, firm flowers that do not fall apart. Famous for its colorful radiance, the South African immigrant adorns flower borders and tubs all summer long. If you do it right, you can even get your Helichrysum in a pot healthy through the winter. Read all the details in our answers to frequently asked questions here.

The helichrysum delights both fresh in the garden and dried in the vase

Plant Strawflower correctly

Mid-May marks the start of the gardening season for the cold-sensitive helichrysum. In the sunny location, loosen the sandy-humic soil deeply to remove weeds, roots and larger stones. At a distance of 20-25 cm, dig out planting pits with 1.5 times the volume of the root ball. The excavated soil is enriched with compost, horn shavings (€32.93) and a little sand or fine grit. (€46.95) Now unpot the flowers to plant them in the middle to just below the first pair of leaves. It is beneficial for the heat-loving Helichrysum if you mulch with gravel or grit after watering.

care tips

While the straw flower is happy about a regular water supply in the first days and weeks after planting, the need for rooting decreases significantly. Here's how to care for a well-established plant:

  • Only water adult flowers when there is no rain
  • Fertilize every 14 days from June to October with compost or liquid fertilizer
  • Cut off wilted flower heads regularly

In pots there are good prospects for perennial cultivation. In this case, stop feeding in August to allow the flower to mature. Before the first frost, cut the plant to 2 fingers above the substrate. Now put the container in a frost-free winter quarters with 5-10 degrees Celsius.
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Which location is suitable?

The helichrysum spreads its lively floral flair everywhere as it caresses the sunlight throughout the day. A warm, airy location suits its rustling buds just fine, allowing raindrops to dry off quickly. In humus-rich, well-drained soil, fresh and without waterlogging, it likes to stretch out its roots. The high-growing varieties are happy about the support of a sunny wall or a garden fence.
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What soil does the plant need?

The helichrysum feels at home in the sandy, loose soil of the rock garden. The soil should be fresh to moderately dry, because wetness has a lasting effect on growth and abundance of flowers. If you are aiming for a perennial cultivation, place the robust summer flower in a pot with low-peat potting soil, which is thinned with sand or fine grit.

When is flowering time?

The flowering period begins in June and lasts well into autumn. This floral staying power needs a little of your helping hand. To ensure that withered flowers do not hinder the development of the buds underneath, please clean the worn-out heads regularly.

Properly cut Strawflower

Cut the prettiest stems before the flowers open so that the helichrysum can do its job perfectly as a dried flower. The first bracts are allowed to stick out a little while the majority of the bud is still closed. Choose the early afternoon hours on a dry day for pruning. As the flowers dry, they will open up on their own.

Water straw flower

If summer comes with a long dry season, water the helichrysum from time to time. When in doubt, it is better to water too little than too much. The summer flower arranges itself better with short-term drought than with excessive moisture. Please avoid overhead irrigation, instead pour the water directly onto the ground.

Fertilize straw flowers properly

With a regular supply of compost in the bed and liquid fertilizer in the bucket, the helichrysum does not say no. Every 14 days, an organic or mineral-organic fertilizer gives your favorite flowers new impetus. Do not fail to pour connection. If overwintering is planned, stop feeding in August to allow the plant to mature before winter.

hibernate

In its native South Africa, the helichrysum thrives for several years. In the pot you can use this potential by allowing the plant to overwinter as follows:

  • Put the planter in good time before the first frost
  • Place in a bright winter quarters with temperatures of 5-10 degrees Celsius
  • The cool bedroom, an unheated stairwell or the cold house are well suited
  • Water occasionally to keep the substrate from drying out
  • Do not fertilize from August to March

You can choose to prune the plant before storing it away or leave the faded inflorescences until early spring. In March, repot your winter guests in fresh substrate and gradually get them used to more light and higher temperatures.

Propagating Strawflower

Propagation is quite reliable by sowing the seeds from February. Sow the seeds in a seed tray on a lean substrate and sieve the seeds 1 cm high with sand or vermiculite. Germination takes 10-12 days at a partially shaded window seat at 15-18 degrees Celsius. Moisten the soil regularly and do not apply fertilizer.

Strawflower in the pot

Pot culture is beneficial for helichrysum in several ways. You can assign the exotic plant a rain-protected location and have the option of overwintering. As a substrate, we recommend potting soil thinned with sand or grit, which you fill over a drainage made of potsherds. How to properly care for the summer flower in the pot:

  • Water only when the top 2-3 cm of the substrate has dried
  • Fertilize liquid every 14 days from June to August/September
  • Cut off wilted flowers promptly for a lush rebloom

When the temperatures drop in autumn, put the pot in the bright winter quarters. At a frost-free 5-10 degrees Celsius, only water so much that the root ball does not dry out. From August to March, the plant does not receive fertilizer.

Is helichrysum poisonous?

There is no health threat from a straw flower. The completely non-toxic summer flower is therefore wonderfully suited for the colorful family garden. Make imaginative drying bouquets and flower arrangements with your children without hesitation.

Beautiful varieties

  • Orange Fire: With its bright orange flowers, this profusely flowering strain is hard to miss; 70-80cm
  • Silvery White: The white flowers are overlaid with a pink tinge; very beautiful cut and dried flower
  • Purple Red: The dark pink-red flowers with a white base of this helichrysum have a distinctive appearance; 70-80cm
  • Sunnyboy: Charming balcony flower of the year 2010 with golden-yellow, 6 cm large flowers; 30-40cm
  • Salmon: An elegant appearance with salmon-pink flowers for borders and balconies; 60-80cm

Category:

Herbs