Description | Mohave series Strawflower (Bracteantha bracteata) Strawflowers are one of the easiest flowers to dry. Mohave series has a wide range of colors on 14-16 inch plants. |
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Pronunciation | (brak-tee-A-tum) |
Plant Type | All Plants, Annuals |
Sunlight | full |
Moisture | average, somewhat drought tolerant once established |
Soil & Site | average |
Flowers | wide range of colors, have no true petals, papery bracts make up most of the flower that is seen, true flower parts emerge in the center of the papery bracts. |
Dimensions | 14-16 by 14-16 inches |
Maintenance | To dry: cut the flowers with a 6-10 inch stem (or longer),cut before the flower in the center is open, remove leaves, hang upside down to dry, once properly dried will last along time |
Propagation | easy by seeds and grown as transplants, can be seeded in situ |
Native Site | Bracteantha is native to Australia. |
Misc Facts | Strawflowers have been around a long time. In England it was cultivated in 1799. Selection were being made in the early to mid 1800's. (syn: Xerochrysum bracteatum, Helichrysum bracteatum) AKA: Paper Daisy, Everlasting |
Author's Notes | To me the most important thing about drying Straw Flowers is to cut and dry them before the flower is to advanced. The dried flowers have the feel of stiff paper. |
Notes & Reference | #28-Cottage Garden Annuals(Clive Lane), #51-Armitage's Manual of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials (Alan Arimitage), #109-Annuals and Tender Perennials for North American Gardens (Wayne Winterroud) |