Strawflowers are one of the easiest flowers to dry. Sunblaze Flame flower's have yellow, orange and bronze colored bracts.
Pronunciation
(brak-tee-A-tum)
Plant Type
All Plants, Annuals
Hardiness Zone
10-11
Sunlight
full
Moisture
average, somewhat drought tolerant once established
Soil & Site
average
Temperature
heat tolerent
Flowers
bracts are colored: yellow, orange, bronze, red, 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
10-14 inches tall by 10-12 wide
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. Selections were being made in the early to mid 1800's. (syn: Xerochrysum bracteatum, Helichrysum bracteatum)
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.
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)