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Strawflower is an upright, warm-weather annual or short lived perennial with daisy-like flowerheads in yellow, pink, bronze, cream, purple or white. Strawflower has thin, lance shaped, grayish green leaves up to 5 in (12.7 cm) long, and sandpapery, hollow, branching stems that may reach 3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m) in height. From late spring until fall, strawflower bears flowerheads about 2 in (5.1 cm) across singly or in few-flowered clusters on the ends of the branches. What look like ray flowers or petals are actually bracts (modified leaves) surrounding the central corolla. The bracts are papery with a straw-like, crackly texture, hence the common name. The corolla is like the disc of more typical daisies, composed of many tiny florets. There are no ray florets at all. The wild form of strawflower has golden-yellow bracts and a yellow or brownish corolla within, but gardeners have developed strains with many other colors. 'Dargon Hill Monarch' has golden-yellow flowerheads to 3 in (7.6 cm) across. It and 'Diamond Head' are shrubby and perennial in mild winter areas. The Monstrosum Series are annuals with double flowers in red, orange, pink or white. They get about 3 ft (0.9 m) tall. The Bright Bikinis Series of annuals also have 3 in (7.6 cm) double flowers but are dwarf, reaching only about a foot in height. There are many other cultivars in the trade, some of which may prove, upon further study, to be distinct species.
Location
Culture
Use strawflower in annual beds and borders. Low growing cultivars are used as edging and in patio containers and window boxes. The taller and bushier forms go nicely in mixed borders and in the cut flower garden. Strawflowers tolerate sandy and gravelly soils, but they do need frequent watering. They will rot in clayey soils.
Features Steve Christman 6/20/00; updated 11/23/03, 3/24/04
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