There’s a reason Helichrysum has earned names like “everlasting,” “strawflower,” and “golden immortelle.” Across Africa, Eurasia, Madagascar, and even parts of Australia, this remarkable genus has adapted into an astonishing range of forms – from compact alpine cushions on windswept peaks to sprawling coastal pioneers on dunes, and tall, aromatic shrubs rising through savanna grassland. Many species seem almost sculpted for harshness: felted leaves that reflect heat, resinous scent glands that reduce water loss, and papery bracts that hold their colour long after flowering.

In southern Africa especially, Helichrysum becomes a signature of wild landscapes. Some species carpet high Drakensberg slopes like silver mats; others form tidy, upright tufts in montane grassland; and some are so specialised that they cling to cliff faces or root into shallow pockets of stony soil. The flowers, often arranged in tight button-clusters or open daisy-like heads, glow in tones of yellow, cream, white, pink, copper, red, and rose – and in many species the “petals” are actually brilliantly coloured bracts that preserve their beauty even when dried.

Beyond their ornamental appeal, Helichrysum carries deep cultural importance. Many species are traditionally used for fragrance, medicinal preparations, ceremonial burning, and as protective plants. For modern growers, they offer the irresistible combination of wild provenance, drought resilience, and striking textures – a true collector’s genus, equally suited to naturalistic gardens, rockeries, alpine troughs and habitat restoration planting.

Helichrysum candolleanum (Helichrysum damarense, Helichrysum leptolepis, Helichrysum pachyrhizum) – Pipa Everlasting

If you want an “everlasting” that feels both wild and adaptable, Helichrysum candolleanum is a superb choice. It’s notably variable in stature and leaf form, which is part of the appeal for collectors – plants can express subtly different looks depending on conditions, while still keeping that unmistakable Helichrysum texture.

Flower heads are described as yellow with red-tipped florets, giving a warm, two-toned effect that reads especially well in naturalistic plantings. Flowering has been recorded throughout the year, but is mainly concentrated from winter into early spring (June to September).

Indigenous to South Africa, its natural range is broad by Helichrysum standards, spanning Namibia and Botswana through South Africa’s bushveld and lowveld regions and into coastal KwaZulu-Natal, with records also in Zimbabwe and Mozambique (and a reputed record for Madagascar). Uses for Helichrysum in general are well established in southern Africa (aromatic plants used traditionally in various ways), while in gardens this species is valued for resilience, pollinator-friendly flowering, and long-lasting “everlasting” display.