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. pilosellum

A smaller, earlier-blooming jewel compared with the big rosette form, var. pilosellum is a compact perennial that fits beautifully into rockeries, grassland-themed plantings, and container displays. For seed growers it’s especially satisfying: quicker to size, neat in habit, and generous with those classic, papery Helichrysum heads.

Indigenous to South Africa, plants arise from a woody rootstock, producing a long, woody flowering stem with a lower, tufted habit and tidy foliage. The heads carry the familiar everlasting look – ideal for small, dried posies and for adding fine texture among grasses and low perennials.

Flowering is mainly in the spring-to-early-summer window, and it is widely distributed across South Africa’s grassland and savanna regions – making it adaptable for local gardens and equally suitable for international growers who can provide bright light and free-draining soils.