Our Favorite Strawflowers

Hardy Annual, Strawflower, or Everlasting, is an easy plant to grow, with a wide range of colors. The true petals are found in the center of each flower and they are surrounded by colorful, straw-like bracts. The flowers bloom from summer to early autumn. Harvest flowers for drying before they open fully and hang them upside down in cool, dark place. Seeds need light to germinate; plant in porous soil. They prosper during hot summers, but high humidity or continual damp may cause stem rot.
Tips:
When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant and grow on in cooler conditions. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost 30cm (12in) apart in sun and ordinary well drained soil.
Harvesting:
Pick when foliage is quite dry and the flowers are well open, tie in small bunches and hang upside down in a dry, well ventilated place until dry.

LET980 Purple-Red ( Bracteantha bractcata )

Purple-Red Bracteantha is a brilliant strawflower grown for its glossy, papery blooms in deep purple-red, magenta, and jewel-toned rose shades. The flowers have a distinctive layered appearance with crisp, everlasting bracts surrounding a lighter central eye. Known for holding their color and shape exceptionally well after drying, Bracteantha is one of the finest annuals for both fresh garden color and long-lasting dried arrangements.

Garden Uses: Purple-Red Bracteantha is excellent for cutting gardens, dried flower gardens, cottage gardens, borders, containers, and pollinator plantings. Its rich color adds depth and brilliance to summer flower beds and combines beautifully with yellow marigolds, blue salvia, white alyssum, ornamental grasses, and other warm-season annuals. The blooms are especially valuable for wreaths, everlasting bouquets, and craft arrangements.

Growing Information: Sow seeds indoors several weeks before the last frost date or direct sow outdoors after the soil has warmed. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Bracteantha prefers moderate fertility and does not like wet, heavy ground. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart for good airflow and strong branching. Water regularly during establishment, then allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Harvest flowers for drying when blooms are partly open, before the centers fully expand.

Botanical Name: Bracteantha bracteata
Common Name: Purple-Red Strawflower
Plant Type: Annual
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Height: 18 to 36 inches
Spread: 12 to 18 inches
Bloom Color: Purple-red, magenta, rose, deep pink tones
Bloom Season: Summer through fall
Flower Form: Papery, layered, everlasting blooms
Best Uses: Cut flowers, dried flowers, borders, containers, crafts

LET981 White Strawflower ( Bracteantha bractcata )

White Strawflower is a bright, elegant everlasting flower grown for its crisp white papery blooms and sunny yellow centers. The clean white petals give the flowers a fresh daisy-like appearance in the garden, while their dry, glossy texture makes them excellent for long-lasting dried arrangements. This easy-growing annual provides summer color, cut flower value, and craft usefulness all in one dependable plant.

Garden Uses: White Strawflower is excellent for cutting gardens, dried flower gardens, cottage gardens, borders, containers, and pollinator plantings. Its clean white blooms blend beautifully with almost any flower color and are especially attractive with blue salvia, pink zinnias, purple verbena, yellow marigolds, and ornamental grasses. The flowers are also popular for wreaths, everlasting bouquets, pressed flower crafts, and dried floral arrangements.

Growing Information: Sow seeds indoors several weeks before the last frost date or direct sow outdoors after danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Strawflowers prefer good air circulation and do not like wet, heavy soil. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart. Water regularly during establishment, then allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Harvest flowers for drying when blooms are partly open, before the centers fully expand.

Botanical Name: Bracteantha bracteata
Common Name: White Strawflower
Plant Type: Annual
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Height: 18 to 36 inches
Spread: 12 to 18 inches
Bloom Color: White with yellow center
Bloom Season: Summer through fall
Flower Form: Papery, layered, everlasting blooms
Best Uses: Cut flowers, dried flowers, borders, containers, crafts

SF377 Apricot Peach Mix ( Bracteantha bractcata )

Apricot Peach Mix Bracteantha is a beautiful strawflower blend grown for its warm, soft-toned blooms in shades of apricot, peach, salmon, coral, cream, and rose. The papery, layered flowers have a glowing pastel quality that makes them especially attractive in bouquets and dried arrangements. This mix brings a gentle cottage-garden charm to the landscape while offering the long-lasting usefulness that makes strawflowers one of the finest everlasting flowers.

Garden Uses: Apricot Peach Mix is excellent for cutting gardens, dried flower gardens, cottage gardens, borders, containers, and floral craft plantings. Its warm pastel colors blend beautifully with white cosmos, blue salvia, lavender verbena, ornamental grasses, zinnias, and other summer annuals. The blooms are especially useful for fresh bouquets, wedding-style arrangements, wreaths, everlasting bouquets, and dried floral crafts.

Growing Information: Sow seeds indoors several weeks before the last frost date or direct sow outdoors after danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Bracteantha prefers good air circulation and performs best in soil that is not overly wet. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart. Water regularly during establishment, then allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. For drying, harvest flowers when they are partly open, before the centers are fully exposed.

Botanical Name: Bracteantha bracteata
Common Name: Apricot Peach Mix Strawflower
Plant Type: Annual
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Height: 18 to 36 inches
Spread: 12 to 18 inches
Bloom Color: Apricot, peach, salmon, coral, cream, rose tones
Bloom Season: Summer through fall
Flower Form: Papery, layered, everlasting blooms
Best Uses: Cut flowers, dried flowers, bouquets, borders, crafts
Pollinator Rating: ★★★★☆

SF212 Sultane Mix ( Bracteantha bractcata )

Sultane Mix Bracteantha is a vibrant strawflower blend featuring a rich assortment of jewel-toned blooms in shades of crimson, scarlet, rose, pink, purple, orange, gold, cream, and white. The brightly colored papery flowers bring long-lasting beauty to both the garden and floral arrangements. Known for their excellent drying qualities, the blooms retain their color and shape for months, making Sultane Mix one of the finest choices for everlasting bouquets and decorative crafts.

Garden Uses: Sultane Mix is ideal for cutting gardens, dried flower gardens, cottage gardens, mixed borders, containers, and pollinator plantings. The broad range of colors creates a lively summer display that blends beautifully with zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, salvia, celosia, and ornamental grasses. The flowers are equally valuable for fresh bouquets, wreaths, dried arrangements, and seasonal decorations.

Growing Information: Sow seeds indoors several weeks before the last frost date or direct sow outdoors after danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Strawflowers prefer moderate fertility and good air circulation. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart to allow for healthy growth. Water regularly during establishment, then allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Harvest flowers for drying while blooms are partially open for best color and form retention.

Botanical Name: Bracteantha bracteata
Common Name: Sultane Mix Strawflower
Plant Type: Annual
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Height: 24 to 36 inches
Spread: 12 to 18 inches
Bloom Colors: Crimson, scarlet, pink, purple, orange, gold, cream, white
Bloom Season: Summer through fall
Flower Form: Papery, layered, everlasting blooms
Best Uses: Cut flowers, dried flowers, borders, containers, crafts

All seed packets listed on this page are in stock and ready to ship.