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 indicum (Gnaphalium indicum, Helichrysum expansum) – Annual Everlasting, Annual Strawflower

Don’t let the name fool you – Helichrysum indicum is a South African endemic coastal-and-lowland character with charming, pale bracts and a knack for thriving on sandy ground. It’s a great choice for wildflower-style sowings, naturalistic Cape-themed gardens, and for collectors who enjoy the small, intricate architecture of annual Helichrysum.

This is an annual herb with a woody taproot, usually branched from the base, with greyish-white woolly leaves. The heads cluster at branch tips, and the bracts are typically white to cream (often milk-white), sometimes with pink suffusion or even crimson tones above the stereome – subtle, changeable colour that rewards close inspection.

It is endemic to the south-western Cape, from the northern coastal belt south to the Betty’s Bay – Swellendam region, growing on sandy flats and slopes and sometimes behaving weedy in rough or cultivated ground. Flowering is recorded between October and February, making it a strong summer display annual in Mediterranean-climate cultivation.