Description

The strawflower name does not disappoint; these flowers really do appear like colored straw. An everlasting cut flower, the stiff, papery bracts never wilt! Swiss Giants are extra-large, double blooms on long stems in many delightfully bright shades; great for borders and attracting pollinators. Plants thrive in heat and tolerate drought.

Botanical Name: Xerochrysum bracteatum
Family: Asteraceae
Native: Australia
Hardiness: Tender perennial in USDA zones 8–10, usually grown as an annual
Plant Dimensions: 36″–40″ tall, 18″–24″ wide
Variety Information: Double blooms 2″–2 ½” across in rose, salmon, yellow, gold, scarlet, red, silver, and white
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Period: Blooms summer to frost.
Attributes: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flower, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant

When to Sow Outside: 2 to 4 weeks after your average last frost date.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date.
Days to Emerge: 7–14 days
Seed Depth: Surface
Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 12″
Thinning: When 1″ tall, thin to 1 every 12″

Special Care: Light aids germination; press seeds into soil surface.

Harvesting: For longest vase life, harvest in the morning, choosing flowers that have just begun to show the center.

110 seeds.