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 petraeum

A rock-lover’s Helichrysum with dramatic bract colour, Helichrysum petraeum is a rewarding choice for collectors who enjoy compact rosettes and plants that look born for crevices. Its glossy white bracts tipped crimson create a refined two-tone effect that feels “designed,” even though it’s entirely natural.

This is a South African indigenous perennial herb with a woody stock crowned by several leaf rosettes, and decumbent flowering stems that can reach around 45 cm. The heads are carried in an open spray, and the radiating bracts are glossy white with crimson tips; the florets are yellow and may also show crimson tipping, echoing the bracts for a striking, cohesive look.

True to its name, it grows around the edges and in the crevices of rock sheets in grassland, recorded from the Mbabane district (Eswatini) and parts of KwaZulu-Natal (including Nkandla, Mpendhle and Richmond districts). Flowering is recorded in March and April, making it a particularly appealing late-season seed and flower subject for southern hemisphere growers.