Helichrysum bracteatum monstrosum Double White seeds - Strawflower

The Double White Everlasting Flower (Helichrysum bracteatum monstrosum) is an annual plant with an upright habit, valued for its double flowers, with a bright pearly white colour, which retain their beauty for a long time, including in dried bouquets. This variety thrives in well-drained soils, in full sun, and withstands drought well. Sow in spring, under shelter, for flowering from July to October in rockeries or slightly wild areas of the garden.

Belonging to the Asteraceae family, Helichrysum bracteatum is native to Australia, where it grows wild in open sunny areas on well-drained to dry soils. It is actually a woody-based perennial plant, often cultivated as an annual in our climates due to its lack of hardiness. In its natural state, its flower is a pearly golden yellow, a colour undoubtedly the origin of its other name, Helichrysum (sun flower). Since its introduction to Europe, numerous hybridisations have led to the creation of a wide range of colours, each more vibrant and cheerful than the next. This 'Double White' variety, obtained through horticultural selection, features numerous pearly white bracts surrounding a central yellow disc. The plant matures in one season. It forms an erect clump of stiff stems within a few weeks. With an upright and bushy habit, it reaches a height of 60 to 90 cm. The rough stems are very leafy, the leaves have a narrow dark green surface covered with a light white fuzz that gives it a soft silvery sheen depending on the lighting. Flowering occurs from July to October. The flowers can reach 5-6 cm in diameter. Arranged in heads, they differ from daisies and cornflowers by the absence of ray flowers or petals, which are replaced by colourful, shiny bracts. This characteristic allows the inflorescences to last a long time once dried, as the bracts do not 'wilt'. Indeed, the papery flowers are low in water and dry very easily. These flowers are nectar-rich, loved by butterflies.

This Double White Bract Everlasting thrives in sunny locations, enjoys heat and tolerates drought, but will be more beautiful and floriferous with regular watering. In beds of annual or mixed flowers, its bright whiteness contrasts pleasantly with more vibrant coloured varieties. It is also ideal for cottage gardens, where its prolonged flowering attracts attention. Pair it with plants with silver foliage like Silver Dust cineraria, lavandins, or blue flowers like cornflower. Hollyhocks and cosmos are also great companions for its pearly flowers. To make dried bouquets, cut the flowers before full bloom and hang them upside down in the dark to preserve their colour. Pair them with statice and grasses in your dry arrangements. Everlastings are also stunning in fresh bouquets, with asters, lilies, or roses in September.