•
1 1

Hudson Valley Seed Company

Strawflower Seeds

$ 3.95 USD
$ 3.95 USD

Art Pack. 250 seeds. Xerochrysum bracteatum

Bring the colors of summer into your home to keep your gardening dreams alive all winter.
Those who think of flowers as soft and tender things are in for a surprise when they plant Strawflower. As its name suggests, its blooms are straw-like: crisp, papery, and sturdy. These are not botanical petals but are bracts, special leaves that draw in pollinators and stay colorful for years if stored somewhere dry (hence the flower's alias, Everlastings). The papery buds are great in wintertime dried arrangements.

 

Days to Germination 7 to 10
Days to Maturity 85
Planting Depth ½ inch
Spacing in Row 8 to 10 inches
Spacing Between Rows 36 inches
Height at Maturity 24 to 36 inches
Width at Maturity 8 to 10 inches

Direct sow after last frost, or sow indoors 3 to 4 weeks before last frost and then transplant after last frost. Plants enjoy full sun and tolerate poor, dry soil. Plants can reach heights of 3 feet. Cut often to promote bud formation. Dry flowers by cutting stems and hanging them upside down in small clusters.

Artwork by Natalie Wargin. Natalie is a graphic designer and a recent transplant from Chicago to the Hudson Valley where the landscape, birds, and animals of her new surroundings can be seen in current work.Through combining landscape painting with still life flowers, she makes this art form, and the plants she represents, feel fresh and contemporary.