How to Grow Strawflower
'Silvery Rose' from Seed
A dusty pink everlasting flower with a silvered sheen, softer than the usual strawflower brights. Dried well, it keeps its colour for a year or more.
Strawflowers feel dry and papery even while they are still growing, like the skin of an onion, and that is why they last. 'Silvery Rose' comes in a muted, dusty pink with a silvery sheen across the petals, a far gentler shade than most strawflowers.
It is a flower for drying as much as for the border. Cut at the right moment, hung in small bunches somewhere dark and airy, it will hold its colour for a year or more and suits the soft, natural look of modern dried arrangements.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Half-hardy annual
Sowing Time
Feb to Apr, under cover
Flowering
July to September
Position
Full sun
Soil
Light and sharp-draining
Difficulty
2 out of 5, easy
Understanding the Plant
'Silvery Rose' is a variety of Xerochrysum bracteatum, often still sold as Helichrysum. It is native to Australia and grown in the UK as a half-hardy annual, so it flowers and finishes within one summer.
The colourful parts are papery bracts rather than true petals. They hold very little water, which is why they dry so well. The true flowers sit in the centre, and if they are allowed to open fully before cutting, they turn fluffy and grey once dried.
The right moment to cut
Cut when the outer bracts have opened but the centre is still tightly closed. Hang small bunches upside down somewhere dark and airy. Dried this way, 'Silvery Rose' keeps its colour for a year or more.
When & How to Sow
Sow under cover from February to April. The seed needs light to germinate, so sow it on the surface and do not cover it.
Avoid wet ground
Heavy, wet soil is the one thing strawflowers will not tolerate. On clay, plant into a raised bed or large pots with plenty of grit mixed into the compost.
Surface sow. Scatter the seed over damp seed compost and press it in lightly. Keep at around 18 to 21°C. Seedlings appear in 7 to 14 days.
Prick out and pinch. Move seedlings into modules once they have true leaves. Pinch out the tips at four or five pairs of leaves for bushier plants and more stems.
Plant out after frost. Harden off and plant out from late May to June, around 30cm apart, in full sun and sharp-draining soil.
Growing On Tips
Hot and sunny
Plant in the sunniest, driest spot you have. Strawflowers do not need feeding.
Water sparingly
Water young plants until established, then only in long dry spells. Overwatering does more harm than drought.
Cut often
Regular cutting keeps new flowers coming and lets you catch each one at the right stage.
Hang to dry
Strip the leaves, bunch five to ten stems and hang upside down in a dark, airy place for two to three weeks.
Light support
In exposed gardens, canes and string help keep stems straight for cutting.
Soft dried arrangements
The muted pink sits beautifully with bleached grasses, bunny tails and cream everlastings.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Seed not germinating | Seed covered or too cold | Surface sow and keep the tray at 18 to 21°C. |
| Fluffy grey centres when dry | Cut too late | Cut while the centre is still tight, just as the outer bracts open. |
| Plants rotting at the base | Wet, heavy soil | Improve drainage with grit, or grow in raised beds or pots. |
| Faded dried flowers | Dried or displayed in bright light | Dry in the dark and keep arrangements out of strong sunlight. |
| Greenfly on stems | Aphids | Rinse or rub away, and check stems before drying. |
When to Expect Flowers
Spring-sown plants set out at the end of May usually flower from July and continue into September with regular cutting.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Sow under cover | ||||||||||||
| 🪴 Plant out | ||||||||||||
| 🌸 Flowering |
Plant Specifications
Dusty pink everlastings that last a year
Sow on the surface in spring, plant out in the sunniest spot you have and cut before the centres open. You will have soft pink dried stems long after summer ends.
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