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 nudifolium var. oxyphyllum (Helichrysum amoenum, Helichrysum oxyphyllum, Helichrysum rhodolepis, Helichrysum undatum) – White Hottentot Tea Everlasting

If you want something more colourful and collector-leaning within the nudifolium complex, var. oxyphyllum stands out for its showier bracts – often with red or pink tones – paired with pale florets. It’s a striking seed-grown choice for mixed perennial beds, indigenous “wildflower” borders, and cutting gardens focused on dried material.

Indigenous to South Africa, this is an erect perennial herb with larger leaves lower on the stem and looser heads than some other forms; reports describe outer bracts showing red to pink hues, while the florets remain white to pale yellow – an eye-catching bicolour effect when the heads are fresh and equally attractive once dried.

Flowering is recorded mainly from late winter into midsummer, and the taxon is not confined to South Africa – appearing as part of the broader southern/eastern African distribution of the group – so it suits growers across a wide range of temperate climates provided it has sun and excellent drainage.