Strawflower 'Swiss Giant Mix' Seeds

Strawflower is a Half-Hardy Annual.

It needs warmth to get started and will not survive a frost. Because 'Swiss Giants' are tall (up to 1 metre), they need a long growing season to reach their full potential, so indoor sowing is best.

Fun Fact: The flowers are "hygroscopic," meaning they react to moisture in the air. They close up tight when it rains or at night to protect their pollen, and burst open again when the sun comes out—even after they have been dried!

These are easy to germinate but require light to wake up.

Germination:
Sow indoors from March to April. Scatter the seeds on the surface of moist compost and do not cover (they need light to germinate). Cover the tray with a plastic lid to keep humidity high. Keep warm (20-22°C). Germination takes 7-14 days.

Where to Sow:
They demand full sun. They prefer light, sandy, or free-draining soil. If growing in heavy clay, add grit or plant in a raised bed. They are very drought tolerant once established.

Care While Growing:
Pinch them! When seedlings are 10cm tall, pinch out the central growing tip. This encourages the plant to branch out and produce multiple stems rather than just one central flower.
Harvesting: 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.

Strawflowers are the star of the "Everlasting" garden. Grow them alongside these drying favourites:

• 🌈 Statice 'Mixed': The classic partner. Statice provides the filler, while Helichrysum provides the focal point. Both demand the same sunny, dry conditions and are harvested at the same time.
• 🌕 Scabiosa 'Drumstick': For geometric contrast. The large, colourful discs of the Strawflower look incredible when arranged next to the architectural, bronze spheres of the Drumstick Scabious.

Sow indoors in spring. Plant out in June. Flowers July to October.