Everlasting flowers, planting guide and care work

everlasting-flowers-care-work

The genus Helichrysum comprises about 600 species originally from Australia, Africa (244 species from South Africa), Europe, and Asia. They have durable and resistant inflorescences, beautiful and variously colored. The best-known species is Helichrysum bracteatum, with the popular names of “strawflower”, “everlasting flowers”, “paper daisy”, or “immortelle”.

The everlasting flowers are annual plants. Grows to a height of 50-100 cm and it is used both as a decorative plant and as a flower used for bouquets. It has a wide range of bright colors, such as red, orange, pink, yellow, purple, and white.

It is considered everlasting flowers because they keep the color of the flowers even after they dry. The flowers are very practical to be used in floral arrangements and bouquets. Besides the persistence of the color, the petals of these flowers do not fall.

It is an unpretentious, sun-loving plant. It can be planted in places with direct sunlight, tolerating heat and drought. For maximum plant growth, as well as to obtain large flowers, fertilize 1-2 times a year with a universal fertilizer. It is easy to care for. It grows quite quickly and feeds the butterflies and the bees.

The height of the plant varies between 50 and 100 cm. The stem is branched at the top and it is covered with rough hairs. The leaves are alternatively arranged, petiolate, lanceolate, entire, or slightly serrated.

The flowers vary from 3 to 7 cm in diameter. They are arranged in terminal solitary inflorescences, pedunculated, and accompanied by numerous persistent bracts. Flowering takes place from June to late autumn (until the first frost). The outer bracts are thinner, and paler, and are made up of dead cells.

Soil. Helichrysum prefers medium soils, fertile, slightly calcareous, placed in sunny areas, with moderate and constant humidity. To grow and bloom beautifully, requires good air circulation.

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Propagation

Like other immortal plants, Helichrysum is propagated through seeds and planting the seedlings. Sowing to produce seedlings must be done in greenhouses, solariums, or nurseries, in March. The optimum temperature for seed germination is 18° C and the plants sprout in 7 to 10 days after sowing. Seedlings must be replanted 2 weeks after sprouting, preferably in alveolar trays or small pots. Planting the seedlings outside should be done towards the end of spring, and at distances of 25-40 cm. Maintenance involves removing wilted flowers to promote continuous flowering throughout the season.

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Diseases and pests

The plant can be occasionally attacked by aphids, red spider mites, and greenhouse whiteflies, especially on the leaf tips and flower buds.

Downy mildew (Plasmopara halstedii) – manifests through yellow leaves on the topside, and the underside through a whitish, mucilaginous down.

Verticillium – it is manifested through the wilting and yellowing of the leaves. Symptoms appear during the warm season and flowering.

Diseases are favored by wet weather and lack of draft. In general, strawflowers are rarely affected by diseases and pests.

Recommended products

Read carefully and follow the instructions on the label of each product

Recommended products

Read carefully and follow the instructions on the label of each product

Drying and storage

Harvesting for drying is done in sunny weather when the flowers are not completely open. Drying should be done in shaded spaces, by tying the plants in bunches. It should be placed with the inflorescences downwards. After drying, for good preservation of colors, store them in a well-ventilated, dry, and dark place (storage in light leads to the fading of colors over time).

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