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Herbaceous PerennialShrubs

Helichrysum stoechas

common shrubby everlasting

A compact, bushy, semi-evergreen shrub or woody-based perennial to 50cm high with aromatic, silvery-white and woolly, linear to spoon-shaped leaves to 2cm long. Tiny, bright yellow flowers are borne in rounded clusters to 3cm across in summer

Other common names

God's flower
gold flower
see moregolden cassidony
golden stoechas
golden tufts
goldilocks
goldylocks

Synonyms

Gnaphalium stoechas

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Helichrysum can be annuals, herbaceous or evergreen perennials or shrubs, usually with grey-hairy foliage and papery everlasting flower-heads
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe, SW Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained poor to moderately fertile neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Protect from excessive winter wet, hard frosts and cold drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants

Pruning

Pruning group 10 in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility. May also be susceptible to downy mildews and powdery mildews

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