Strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum), often called Golden Everlasting or Paper Daisies, are cheerful, daisy-like blooms known for their distinctive papery texture. Whether this popular garden plant is a perennial or an annual depends entirely on where it is grown. While the strawflower is botanically classified as a tender perennial, the majority of gardeners cultivate it as a summer annual.
Understanding Strawflower Lifespan
The distinction between the strawflower’s biological classification and its common use is based on temperature tolerance. As a native of Australia, the plant naturally behaves as a short-lived perennial, capable of returning for two to three years in its ideal climate. This perennial habit is only consistently observed in regions with very mild winters, specifically those corresponding to USDA hardiness zones 8 and above.
Strawflowers are not frost-tolerant, meaning a hard freeze will kill the entire plant. Consequently, for the vast majority of gardeners in temperate climates, they must be replanted every spring after the danger of the last frost has completely passed. The short growing season in these cooler areas forces the plant to complete its entire life cycle—from seed to flower—within a single warm season, which is the defining characteristic of an annual plant.
Basic Requirements for Healthy Growth
Strawflowers require specific environmental conditions to produce their abundant, colorful blooms during the growing season. Full sun exposure is mandatory for optimal growth, meaning the plants need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Planting them in a spot that receives less light will result in fewer flowers and weaker, leggier stems that may require staking.
The soil type is another factor for the health of this plant. They thrive best in well-draining soil and are highly intolerant of standing water or continuously wet conditions. While they can tolerate sandy or poor soils, good drainage is necessary to prevent root rot. Once established, strawflower plants demonstrate moderate drought tolerance, though young plants need consistent watering until their root systems develop.
Strategies for Next Season’s Blooms
Since most gardeners treat the strawflower as a temporary annual, planning for the next season involves managing the plant’s life cycle. The most common method for ensuring future blooms is by saving seeds from the current season’s plants. To collect seeds, gardeners wait until the flower head is completely dry and the center has become fluffy, similar in appearance to a dandelion puffball.
These tiny seeds are then easily rubbed off the dried flower head and must be surface-sown, as they require light to germinate the following spring. Alternatively, in warmer zones, gardeners can attempt to overwinter container-grown plants. This involves moving the potted strawflowers indoors to a cool, bright location before the first hard frost. Throughout the summer, removing spent flowers, known as deadheading, encourages the plant to produce more blooms instead of directing energy into seed production.
Unique Appeal as Dried Flowers
The strawflower is one of the most highly valued species for cultivation specifically as a cut and dried flower. This unique appeal stems from the composition of the flower head, where the colorful, stiff, papery structures are actually bracts, not true petals. These bracts contain very little moisture and retain their vibrant color and shape long after the plant has been harvested.
For the best results when drying, flowers should be harvested just as they begin to open, when only two or three layers of the papery bracts have unfurled but before the yellow center disk is fully exposed. Cutting the stem deep and removing all the foliage ensures a clean drying process. The stems should then be bundled in small bunches and hung upside down in a dark, dry, and well-ventilated area for approximately three weeks until they are completely crisp.