Strawflower

Scientific name: Helichrysum bracteatum

Also known as: wax flower, iron chrysanthemum

Family and genus: Asteraceae

Blooming season: winter to spring, about December to May of the following year

Brief introduction: Strawflower, plant height 70-120 cm, stems thick and coarse, appearing hairy, leaves linear or lanceolate, flower heads solitary at the tips of branches, flower diameter 3-6 cm, the ray-like petals around the flower head are multiple layers of involucral bracts surrounding the flower head, the outer bracts short, arranged in an imbricate pattern, the inner layers of bracts elongated into petal-like form, pale red or yellow, thicker and greenish at the base, dry and hard, resembling the nature of straw, hence the name strawflower, the florets cluster into a yellow flower disk, about 2 cm in diameter. Flower colors include white, pale red, rose red, purple-red, as well as pale yellow, deep yellow to deep maroon.