Common everlasting

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade, but flowers less and may grow loosely.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then during prolonged dry spells. Let the soil dry partly between waterings; avoid persistently wet roots.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soil. Tolerates poor soil, but struggles in wet clay, especially in winter.

Height

0.5-2 ft (0.15-0.6 m)

Spread

1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m), depending on the form

Flowers

Clusters of golden-yellow button flowers from spring into autumn; flowering can continue through much of the year in mild climates.

Foliage

Evergreen. Narrow to spoon-shaped, grey-green or silvery leaves covered with fine hairs; foliage and growth habit vary considerably between forms.

Growth

Moderate to fast

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.1 ft (0.33 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.2 ft (0.36 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.2 ft (0.38 m)

   full size

About 2 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

Australia

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Fast

• Water new plants deeply when the surrounding soil begins to dry; reduce watering once established.
• Use a container with drainage holes and a free-draining potting mix.
• Feed sparingly in spring only if growth is weak; rich feeding encourages soft, sprawling growth.
• Use a thin gravel mulch and keep it clear of the crown.
• In cold climates, take cuttings or move pots into a bright, frost-free place before winter.

Pruning. Trim off spent flower stems during the flowering season to keep plants tidy and encourage more bloom. In spring, shorten leggy shoots and remove dead or frost-damaged growth once the risk of hard frost has passed.

Spring

Trim winter-damaged growth and lightly reshape established plants.

Late spring

Plant outdoors after the risk of frost has passed in colder regions; water well while roots establish.

Early summer

Take non-flowering tip cuttings to replace ageing plants or preserve a particular form.

Summer

Remove faded flower stems and water during prolonged drought, especially in containers.

Autumn

Move containers under cover before frost where winters are cold.

Winter

Keep sheltered plants in bright light and water sparingly, without allowing the root ball to become completely dry.

• Edge sunny paths with compact forms, using the silver foliage to soften paving.
• Plant in gravel gardens with lavender and small ornamental grasses for contrasting foliage and flower shapes.
• Use spreading forms at the front of Australian native borders with kangaroo paws and lomandra.
• Let low-growing forms spill over container edges or low retaining walls.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Dry gravel garden, Mediterranean, Coastal, Pollinator garden and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Kangaroo paw, Lomandra, Lavender, Rosemary, Blue fescue and Fan flower.

Wildlife: The flowers provide nectar and pollen for small bees, hoverflies and other visiting insects.

• Root or crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage, keep mulch away from the crown and reduce watering.
• Frost damage: protect plants from hard frost or overwinter containers in a bright, frost-free place.
• Leggy, sparse growth: provide more sun, avoid heavy feeding and trim lightly after flowering.
• Aphids on soft shoots: wash off small colonies with water; use insecticidal soap if needed, avoiding open flowers.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, but species-specific safety information is limited. No particular toxic part is established; it is an ornamental plant, not a food plant.

• Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum)

  Strawflower has much larger, usually solitary flower heads surrounded by conspicuous papery bracts; common everlasting carries clusters of small yellow buttons.

• Billy buttons (Craspedia globosa)

  Billy buttons has round, ball-shaped flower heads held singly on long, mostly leafless stems above a basal clump of leaves.

Chrysocephalum comes from Greek words meaning 'golden head', while apiculatum refers to a small pointed tip.

Propagation. Take softwood or semi-ripe tip cuttings from spring to late summer to retain the parent plant's habit. Seed can be sown in spring, but seedlings may vary; established rooted clumps can also be divided in spring.

Accepted botanical name

Chrysocephalum apiculatum

Native range

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

Measured

Average height 20 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.