Xerochrysum bracteatum

Xerochrysum bracteatum
Wild form of Xerochrysum bracteatum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Xerochrysum
Species:
X. bracteatum
Binomial name
Xerochrysum bracteatum
(Vent.) Tzvelev
Synonyms

Bracteantha bracteata (Vent.) Anderb. & Haegi
Helichrysum bracteatum (Vent.) Andrews
Helichrysum lucidum Henckel[1][2]
Helichrysum chrysanthum Pers.[2][3]

Xerochrysum bracteatum, commonly known as the golden everlasting or strawflower, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to Australia. Described by Étienne Pierre Ventenat in 1803, it was known as Helichrysum bracteatum for many years before being transferred to a new genus Xerochrysum in 1990. It is an annual[4] up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall with green or grey leafy foliage. Golden yellow or white flower heads are produced from spring to autumn; their distinctive feature is the papery bracts that resemble petals. The species is widespread, growing in a variety of habitats across the country, from rainforest margins to deserts and subalpine areas. The golden everlasting serves as food for various larvae of lepidopterans (butterflies and moths), and adult butterflies, hoverflies, native bees, small beetles, and grasshoppers visit the flower heads.

The golden everlasting has proven very adaptable to cultivation. It was propagated and developed in Germany in the 1850s, and annual cultivars in a host of colour forms from white to bronze to purple flowers became available. Many of these are still sold in mixed seed packs. In Australia, many cultivars are perennial shrubs, which have become popular garden plants. Sturdier, long-stemmed forms are used commercially in the cut flower industry.

  1. ^ Henckel v. Donnersmarck, Leo F. V., Graf. (1806). Adumbrationes plantarum nonnullarum horti Halensis academici selectarum (in Latin). Halae: Formis F. A. Grunerti, Patr. p. 5. hdl:2027/hvd.32044106314206. OCLC 5993095.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference bayer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Persoon, Christiaan H. (1807). Synopsis specierum plantarum (in Latin). Vol. 2. Paris, France: Treuttel et Würtz. p. 414. Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Xerochrysum bracteatum". RHS. Retrieved 2 August 2021.