Featured Plant of the Week (Strawflower)

Strawflower

This week we're taking a look at the Australian native, Strawflower. This hardy annual is famous for its fall colors and amazing longevity. A popular choice for gardens, home décor, or cuts, strawflower is right at home in summer or fall settings. Combined with its easy care requirements and unique properties, it makes an excellent option for a broad variety of uses through out half the year. To learn more about this plant, just click the link below.

In the wild, strawflower produces golden-yellow flowers, and grows in hot and dry open scrublands. Its one of the five unique species in the genus Xerochrysum, all of which are native only to Australia. Strawflower's actual scientific name is Xerochrysum bracteatum, which refers to the nature of its papery blooms. Some common names used to describe it are paper daisy, everlasting, and immortelle.

The reason strawflower blooms last so long is thanks to the fact that its 'petals' are actually bracts (bracts are actually a special type of leaves). Some examples of bracts are like the stubby triangular leaves on the back of a sunflower, or the red 'petals' of a poinsettia. When the bracts are finished growing on a strawflower, they actually die and dry out, yet preserve their pigment. This gives the plant is famous papery quality, and the soothing rustling they make in a breeze.

Most interesting though, is the bract's purpose. Since the bracts dry out when they mature, their cells are actually dead and become rigid. Additionally, the cells walls of the upper side of the bracts are thicker than those of the cells on the underside. This means that when the plant is dry, the cells on the underside contract more than the ones on top, causing the flower to open wide. However, when they become moist or the humidity increases the cells on the bottom expand causing the flower to curl up and form a ball shape. The practical advantage of this movement is to protect the flower from the rain, preserving its precious supply of pollen.

This motion is called hydrochastic movement, and you can see it in action for yourself! Just spray the flower of an open strawflower with a bit of water and within seconds it will begin to curl up and protect its florescence. They're like tiny umbrellas!

You would think such an interesting plant is difficult to grow, but strawflower could hardly be simpler. It can take full sun and will grow in even the poorest soil. It can handle the heat well, and will only need to be brought indoors to protect it from frost. Getting the soil moist should be an adequate amount of watering, though it should be well drained. You can let the potting medium dry out before watering it again. Fertilizer is not necessary but applying some will encourage larger blooms. Zones 3 to 8 the plant is an annual, and zones 9 to 11 it will behave as a perennial. It will begin producing flowers in the spring and will continue to do so into the fall.

You can find strawflower at BloomRite® Gardens right now, in 6" grower's pots for only $3.95 per plant. However, you can grab these fantastic plants for just 99¢ if you bring this week's coupons with you at check out! Call ahead to determine available colors and quantity.