Ammobium Plant Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners

Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 21st Nov 2023

In this Gardener's HQ guide, we'll explore cultivating Ammobium plants in your garden, indoor spaces, and other settings.

Winged Everlasting, Yass Daisy: Cultivation & Garden Use

Members of the Ammobium genus are native to Australia. Perhaps the best known species is Ammobium alatum, which is commonly known as the Winged Everlasting and is named after its winged stems.

As a member of the Aster family, the flowers bloom in the summer and consist white ray florets with a central disc of yellow or orange. The foliage is silvery in colour.

Ammobium alatum photograph by Bárbol.

It makes a nice plant to grow in a wildlife garden as it can help to attract butterflies, hoverflies, and bees.

That said it is more often grown for its use as a dried flower and for floral arrangements.

It also makes an attractive rockery plant, and looks great when planted in mass.

Like Winged Everlasting, the Yass Daisy (Ammobium craspedioides) has basal rosette leaves. These are spoon shaped and are about 5 inches (12.5 cm) in length.

The stems have narrow wings along their edges. Flower heads are button shaped and solitary atop stems that reach about 2 feet (60 cm) in height.

In its native Australia it is often found growing besides Eucalypts plants. The Yass Daisy is naturally found in forests; and enjoys both moist and dry soils.

Description of Winged everlasting

The common names for the Hardy perennial Ammobium include Winged everlasting. They typically bloom in the summer to early autumn.

Ammobium are fairly large plants that can grow from 2 to five feet (60 to 150 cm) in height. They have white flowers with a yellow/orange center, and makes an ideal plant for growing in borders.

How to Grow Winged everlasting

It is best to sow Winged everlasting on the soil surface then sprinkle with soil, with a spacing of 25 to 40 cm in the early spring or autumn.

Ammobium prefers full sunlight. The soil should be well drained. Ammobium requires between 10 days and 20 days to germinate, when growing indoors it is best to start seeds off 6 to 7 weeks before planting out in mid-spring, they germinate best at a temperature of 15 degrees centigrade.

Caring for Ammobium in the Garden

Winged everlasting require watering in the driest periods of summer.

Common Questions

How many members does the Ammobium genus have?

The Ammobium genus is quite small, with only about five species of flowering plants.

Do members of Ammobium make a good garden or landscaping plant?

Yes, the most commonly grown species, Ammobium alatum or winged everlasting, is popular in gardens for its attractive, long-lasting white flowers, and it is also used in dried flower arrangements.

Which Ammobium species are most frequently grown by gardeners?

The species most often grown is Ammobium alatum, also known as winged everlasting, due to its attractive and durable flowers.

Are members of the Ammobium plant genus fragrant?

Ammobium plants are not typically known for their fragrance. They're primarily grown for their visual

What is the perfect location to grow Ammobium?

Ammobium prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant, making it a good choice for dry or sandy gardens.

Is Ammobium invasive in the USA, if so in which states?

Currently, Ammobium is not considered to be invasive in the USA.

How do I remove Ammobium plants from my garden?

To remove Ammobium plants, you can pull them out ensuring that you remove the entire root system to prevent regrowth.

Summary

The Ammobium genus, part of the Asteraceae family, includes only a few species. The most well-known is Ammobium alatum, commonly called Winged Everlasting. This Australian native is an annual or short-lived perennial featuring small, white, daisy-like flowers with a central yellow disc.

Ammobium plants prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They are drought-tolerant once established, making them suitable for xeriscaping or dry garden areas. Their flowers are excellent for cutting and are particularly valued as an everlasting flower for dried arrangements.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Ammobium plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: Growing Scotch Thistle, Coreopsis, and Carthamus plants.