Xerochrysum bracteatum

Read about Xerochrysum bracteatum in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Helichrysum bracteatum, Andr. Fig. 1799. Stout annual, 1 ½ -3 ft. tall, somewhat branched, the terete sts. nearly or quite glabrous: lvs. many and rather large, oblong-lanceolate, narrowed to a short petiole, entire, green: heads terminating the branches, 1-2 ½ in. across, yellow or orange, the short and obtuse involucre-scales imbricated. Austral.—Perhaps the most important single everlasting fl. grown in this country, particularly for bold or heavy design work. It is very variable, particularly in color. R.H. 1896:551. The heads are pure white in var. album, Hort. (H. album, Hort. H. niveum, Graham. B.M. 3857); scales tipped with red in var. bicolor, Hort. (Elichrysum bicolor, Lindl. B.R. 1814); dark scarlet in var. atrococcineum, Hort. (H. atrococcineum, Hort.); dark blood-red in var. atrosanguineum, Hort. The forms with very large heads are often known as H. macranthum, Hort. The double forms are often known as H. monstrosum, Hort. Other portraits of this species will be found in B.R. 24:58. R.H. 1851:101. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.