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 pagophilum – Crag Everlasting

If you collect alpine cushions, Helichrysum pagophilum is irresistible: a dense, hard, rock-hugging dwarf shrub that builds compact, rounded mounds with tightly imbricate leaves and solitary heads perched at the tips. It’s the kind of species that looks like it was sculpted by wind, frost, and intense sun.

This is a rare high Drakensberg and Lesotho specialist, recorded from a limited stretch of summit country between roughly 2,745 and 3,500 m, where it presses against rock surfaces and can expand into impressive cushions up to about a metre across. For international growers, it’s a dream “cold-garden” plant – best treated like a true alpine with bright light, sharp drainage, and cool conditions.

The heads carry glossy bracts that can appear pale lemon to whitish, surrounding yellow florets, and it flowers between November and January – perfect timing for Southern Hemisphere summer displays. As with many everlastings, the bracts also lend themselves to drying and long-lasting arrangements on a miniature scale.