Helipterum Plant Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners
Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 19th Oct 2023
In this Gardener's HQ guide, we'll explore cultivating Helipterum plants in your garden, indoor spaces, and other settings.
- Plant Characteristics: Helipterum sports vibrant, papery petals that maintain their color even when dried. Their long-lasting nature makes them great for both gardens and dried floral arrangements.
- Ideal Growing Conditions: These sun-loving plants thrive in full sunlight and do best in a well-draining soil. Plants are drought-tolerant once established.
- General Care: Water sparingly but deeply, ensuring the soil doesn't become waterlogged. Remove spent blooms to promote further flowering.
- Tips for New Gardeners: Everlasting Daisy is beginner-friendly due to its low maintenance nature. They're generally pest-free, but proper spacing is essential to avoid fungal issues.
Everlasting, Paper Daisies & Yellow Billy Buttons: Cultivation & Garden Use
These hardy annuals or half hardy annuals reach a height of about 12 inches (30 cm).
Helipterum carry daisy like flowers of red pink or white that flower in the summer.
Their size makes them ideal border plants. Some of the common names for Helipterum include Everlasting, Everlasting Daisy, Paper Daisy, Immortelle, Rosy Paper Daisy, Australian Everlasting, and Mangles Everlasting.
Helipterum pierrot - Crisp Everlasting by Anniesannuals; creative commons.
How to grow Helipterum Everlasting
Everlasting are valued by flower arrangers as once dried their flowers last for a very long time. They therefore make an ideal plant to grow in the garden for anyone with an interest in indoor flowers.
If you want to grow them outdoors from the off, then sow the seeds about a month before the last frost of spring. Simply cover the seeds. Everlasting like to grow in a sunny part of the garden that has a light sandy soil.
If you want to start off Everlasting and other Helipterum members indoors, then the growing process should start about 5 weeks before they are due to be transplanted into the garden. Transplant out after the last frost of spring.
Rhodanthe chlorocephala (previously Helipterum) Paper everlasting by Quadrapop; creative commons.
They should be sown in peat pots, and the seed lightly covered with soil. It should take from between two to three weeks to germinate at 64 to 75°F (18 to 24°C).
Once seedlings are ready they should be grown outdoors, spaced about 20 cm (8 inches) apart.
Caring for Everlasting plants
As Everlasting plants are attractive to aphids, you may like to either encourage ladybirds. Otherwise treat the plants to prevent infestation.
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Growing and Care Guide
Common Names: Australian Everlasting, Crisp Everlasting, Paper Daisies, Rosy Paper Daisy, Immortelle, Everlasting Daisy, Yellow Billy Buttons.Life Cycle: Hardy annual. Half hardy annual.
Height: 6 to 20 inches (15 to 50 cm).
Native: Australasia.
Growing Region: Zones 3 to 10.
Flowers: Summer.
Flower Details: Red, white, pink, yellow. Daisy-like. Buttons.
Foliage: Grey-green leaves. Wiry stem.
Sow Outside: Cover seed. A few weeks after the last frost. Spacing 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm).
Sow Inside: Usually started indoors in cooler areas. Use peat pots. Germination time: two to three weeks. Temperature 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C). Seven or eight weeks before expected last frost. Transplant outdoors a couple of weeks after the last frost.
Requirements: Full sunlight. Sandy soil. Light soil. Dry soil. Provide support.
Family: Asteraceae.
Miscellaneous: The Helipterum genus has been sub-divided many times. Plants that used to be found in this genus may now belong to the following genera: Anemocarpa; Chrysocephalum; Erymophyllum; Gilberta; Hyalosperma; Leucochrysum; Rhodanthe; Syncarpha; and Triptilodiscus. It is also synonymous with the Acroclinium genera.
Common Questions
How many members does the Helipterum genus have?
The Helipterum genus includes around 110 species, many of which are favored for their paper-like, long-lasting flowers.
Do members of Helipterum make a good garden or landscaping plant?
Yes, many Helipterum species are popular in dried flower arrangements and can add unique beauty to gardens and landscapes.
Which Helipterum species are most frequently grown by gardeners?
Helipterum roseum, also known as Everlasting or Paper Daisy, is commonly grown for its vibrant and long-lasting flowers.
Are members of the Helipterum plant genus fragrant?
Most Helipterum species are not known for their fragrance but for their visually striking, long-lasting flowers.
What is the perfect location to grow Helipterum?
Helipterum species prefer full sun and sandy, well-drained soil.
Is Helipterum invasive in the USA, if so in which states?
At the moment, Helipterum is not considered invasive in the USA.
How do I remove Helipterum plants from my garden?
To remove Helipterum, carefully pull or dig up the plants, making sure to remove all parts of the roots.
Summary
The Helipterum genus, also known as strawflowers or paper daisies, belongs to the Asteraceae family. Native to Australia, these plants are known for their long-lasting, paper-like blooms. A popular species is Helipterum roseum.
Plant Helipterum in a sunny location with well-drained soil. It's a drought-tolerant plant that prefers a drier climate. Seed sowing is the common propagation method, typically in the late winter or early spring.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Helipterum plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Bellis, Glory of the Snow, and Ursinia plants.
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