How to Grow
Strawflower 'Swiss Giant Mix' from Seed
The workhorse of the everlasting garden -- Half-Hardy Annual producing massive fully-double blooms in fiery scarlet, tangerine orange, golden yellow, hot pink and pure white on 90–100cm stems; PINCH OUT at 10cm for multi-stemmed branching plants; harvest when buds are HALF-OPEN (fully open = turns inside-out when dried); holds intense colour for years; surface press/light; 18–21°C; 10–20 days; March–April indoor; full sun; free-draining sandy soil; drought-tolerant; Statice is the classic companion
Swiss Giant Helichrysum is simply the best strawflower for serious dried flower production -- a claim that reflects the specific combination of qualities that makes it the reference variety for everlasting flower cultivation: the massive, fully-double blooms in sunset shades (fiery scarlet, tangerine orange, golden yellow, hot pink, and pure white) that are large enough to serve as focal points in any arrangement; the 90–100cm height on strong stems that makes cutting practical; the intense, stable colour that holds for years after drying without fading or special treatment; and the prolific branching response to the pinch-out technique that converts a single-stemmed plant into a multi-headed cutting machine.
The Australian origin of Helichrysum bracteatum explains its specific requirements: full sun, well-drained soil, and genuine drought tolerance once established. In a UK cutting garden, these needs translate to a back-of-border position in the sunniest, most free-draining bed available -- conditions where most other plants struggle, but where Helichrysum thrives and produces its most vibrant colour. The learning curve is minimal: sow on the surface, pinch at 10cm, plant in full sun, harvest at half-open. Everything else takes care of itself.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Half-Hardy Annual -- the workhorse of the everlasting garden; 90–100cm tall
Colours
Fiery scarlet, tangerine orange, golden yellow, hot pink, pure white; fully double blooms
PINCH OUT
At 10cm -- essential for branching multi-stemmed plants with more flowers
Harvest timing
Cut when buds are HALF-OPEN -- if fully open they turn inside-out when dried
Dried life
Holds intense colours for literally years; arrangements become heirloom pieces
Difficulty
2 out of 5 -- pinch out and harvest at the right moment; otherwise very easy
Understanding the Swiss Giant Strawflower
The Everlasting Flower -- Already Dry While Growing
Helichrysum bracteatum (now correctly Xerochrysum bracteatum) is an "everlasting" flower -- a term that refers not to its lifespan in the garden but to the specific structural property that makes it unique: the colourful parts of the flower are not petals in the conventional sense, but papery modified bracts that feel crisp and dry to the touch even while the plant is actively growing. Unlike conventional flowers whose soft, moisture-filled petals collapse and discolour when dried, the bracts of Helichrysum are inherently stable and retain their colour and structural integrity for years after harvest -- making the drying process little more than removing any remaining moisture rather than a complex preservation operation.
Pinch Out at 10cm -- The Branching Technique
Swiss Giant Helichrysum grows to 90–100cm as a single-stemmed plant if left unpinched. Pinching out the central growing tip when the seedling reaches 10cm divides this energy into multiple lateral stems, each of which produces its own flowering shoot. The result: a branching plant producing 5–10 or more stems and therefore 5–10 or more harvestable flower heads per plant rather than a single central head. Pinch them! When seedlings are 10cm tall, pinch out the central growing tip. This single action multiplies the cutting and drying yield dramatically.
Harvest at Half-Open -- The Critical Timing
The most important growing decision for Helichrysum is the harvest moment for drying. For drying, cut the stems when the buds are only half-open. They continue to open as they dry. If you wait until they are fully open on the plant, they will turn inside out and reveal a brown centre when dried. The ideal harvest window: the outer bracts of the flower are separating and beginning to display their colour, but the centre of the flower is still closed. At this half-open stage, cut with 20–30cm of stem, strip lower leaves, bundle loosely and hang upside down in a warm, dark, airy space for 2–3 weeks.
Sowing & Growing On
Sow Indoors March–April at 18–21°C; Surface Press (Light Needed); 10–20 Days -- Pinch at 10cm -- Plant Late May in Full Sun -- Harvest Half-Open for Drying
Surface sow March–April at 18–21°C, pressing lightly without covering (light required). Germination 10–20 days. Pinch out growing tip at 10cm. Plant late May in full sun with free-draining soil. Harvest stems when buds are half-open for drying.
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Sow March–April at 18–21°C on the surface of moist compost -- do not cover. Light required for germination. Press gently to ensure seed-to-compost contact. Germination 10–20 days at 18–21°C. Seedlings are initially small and slow -- this is normal. Maintain bright, warm conditions throughout. Prick out into individual 9cm pots when 2–3 true leaves appear.
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Pinch out the central growing tip when the seedling is 10cm tall. This single action is the most important in the Helichrysum growing process: it converts a single-stemmed plant into a branching, multi-headed plant that produces multiple harvestable cutting stems throughout the season. Without pinching, one large flower; with pinching, 5–10 or more lateral stems each producing a flower.
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Harden off and plant out in late May at 30cm spacing in full sun with free-draining soil. Swiss Giant Helichrysum originates from Australia -- it is genuinely heat and drought tolerant once established. Sandy or free-draining soil is strongly preferred; heavy clay with waterlogging significantly reduces performance and plant health. Add horticultural grit to clay planting holes.
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Harvest stems when buds are half-open -- before the centre reveals itself. Cut with 20–30cm of stem. Strip all lower leaves. Bundle in loose bunches of 8–10 stems (too dense and airflow is reduced, slowing drying). Hang upside down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space -- a garden shed, airy barn, or attic -- for 2–3 weeks until fully dry. The darkness preserves colour intensity.
Growing On & Care
The Colour Range -- Sunset Shades
Swiss Giant Helichrysum provides massive, fully double blooms in sunset shades -- fiery scarlet, tangerine orange, golden yellow, hot pink, and pure white. These five colour groups cover the full warm spectrum from the most saturated red through warm oranges and yellows to the neutral pure white that works with every other colour in a dried arrangement. The large size of the blooms (5–7cm across when fully dried) makes them natural focal points in any arrangement -- the structural element around which smaller-headed dried materials (Statice, Acroclinium, Lagurus) are arranged.
Heirloom Arrangements
The flowers dry perfectly, maintaining their intense colours for literally years. Arrangements made from them become heirloom pieces, passed down through generations. This is not hyperbole -- properly dried Helichrysum bracts contain no water-soluble pigments that fade over time, unlike conventional petal pigments. Arrangements incorporating Swiss Giant Helichrysum from one growing season remain ornamentally valuable for 3–5 years or more in dry, light-protected storage conditions.
With Statice -- The Gold Standard Pairing
Statice provides the filler and texture, while Helichrysum provides the focal point. Both demand the same sunny, dry conditions and are harvested at the same time." This pairing works because the two plants provide entirely complementary forms: Statice offers the airy, flat-topped, small-headed clusters of colour that fill space between focal points; Helichrysum offers the large, round, solid, intensely-coloured focal point itself. Growing both in the same cutting garden bed and harvesting simultaneously provides all the raw material needed for a complete, professional-quality dried arrangement.
Pollinator Value
Helichrysum earns a place on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list -- an important clarification for a plant primarily grown for drying. When left on the plant, the large yellow centres provide rich nectar for bees and butterflies. For the best of both applications, harvest some stems for drying at the half-open stage while leaving others to fully open for pollinator foraging. A mixed approach -- harvest half the stems, leave half to flower fully -- provides both the dried flower resource and the ecological value.
Fresh Cut Flower Use
While primarily grown as an everlasting, Swiss Giant Helichrysum is also an effective fresh cut flower with a vase life of 7–10 days. Cut when flowers are three-quarters open (slightly later than for drying), re-cut stems at an angle under water, and condition in deep water for 4 hours. The glistening, jewel-like bracts of fresh Helichrysum in a mixed summer vase catch light in a way that dried specimens do not -- the fresh flowers have a luminous quality that makes them work differently from the warm, matte quality of the dried versions. Both uses are valuable and neither precludes the other from a well-managed cutting garden.
The Cutting Garden Workhorse
The workhorse for cutting gardens and florists -- a specific claim that reflects its practical combination of easy establishment, reliable branching response to pinching, long flowering season (July to first frost with regular cutting), and the dramatic, immediate visual impact of the large, vivid, fully-double blooms in the hot end of the colour spectrum. At 90–100cm with strong stems, it occupies the back-of-border position in a cutting garden bed, visible above other plants and providing the architectural height element that shorter everlastings cannot.
Sowing & Harvest Calendar
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| Sow indoors (Mar–Apr; surface; 18–21°C) |
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| Plant out (late May; full sun; free-draining) |
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| Pinch out at 10cm (May–Jun) |
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| Flowers and harvest (Jul–Oct; half-open for drying) |
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Common Problems & Solutions
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
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| Dried flowers turning inside-out; brown centres visible | Harvested too late -- flowers fully open on plant | Harvest when buds are only half-open. Flowers continue opening during the drying process. Fully-open flowers on the plant turn inside-out as they dry, revealing the brown centre. Harvest earlier next time. |
| Single large flower per plant; poor branching | Growing tip not pinched out at 10cm | Pinch out the central growing tip when each plant reaches 10cm. Without this, the plant grows as a single stem with one central flower. With pinching, 5–10 lateral stems develop. This cannot be undone once the plant is taller. |
| Root rot; plants collapsing in summer | Waterlogged or heavy clay soil | Helichrysum requires excellent drainage -- it is a plant of Australian dry conditions. Add generous horticultural grit to clay soil. Consider a raised bed or container for heavy clay gardens. |
| Mould on drying bunches | Bunches too dense; insufficient airflow; wet conditions at harvest | Bundle loosely (no more than 8–10 stems per bunch). Hang in a truly well-ventilated space -- a garden shed with open vents is ideal. Harvest only when the plant is dry -- avoid harvesting after rain or heavy dew. |
Plant Specifications
Pinch out at 10cm and harvest at half-open -- and the sunset-coloured strawflower holds its intense colours for literally years
Sow March–April on the surface at 18–21°C (light required; 10–20 days). Pinch out the central growing tip at 10cm -- essential for branching and multiple stems. Plant late May in full sun with free-draining soil. Harvest stems when buds are half-open (before the centre reveals itself). Bundle loosely and hang upside down in a dark, warm, ventilated space for 2–3 weeks. The intense colours hold for years.
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