The genus Helichrysum consists of an estimated 600 species, in the sunflower family, Asteraceae. It occurs in Africa (with 244 species in South Africa), Madagascar, Australasia and Eurasia. The plants may be annuals, herbaceous perennials or shrubs, growing to a height of 60 to 90 cm. The genus was a wastebasket taxon, and many of its members have been reclassified in smaller genera, most notably the Everlastings, now in the genus Xerochrysum.

Helichrysum foetidum is commonly known as Yellow Everlasting in English, Muishondblaar in Afrikaans and Isicwe in Zulu. The glossy, deep yellow flower heads of Helichrysum foetidum catch the eye. This hardy, water-wise plant could enhance many gardens. This Helichrysum is a robust, biennial, strong-smelling herb, the stem is simple or sparsely branched from the base, 0.3-1 m tall, and young parts are thinly white-hairy. The leaves are grouped at the stem base, but they wither at the time of flowering. They are up to 120 x 150 mm and elliptic with a clasping base. The upper surface is sparsely hairy, whereas the lower one is thinly white-woolly. Many flower heads are borne in a large, leafy, spreading, umbrella-like inflorescence. The leaves of Helichrysum foetidum are said to make an excellent dressing for a festering sore and are used as a circumcision wound dressing. The plant is also used traditionally by some young girls to relieve menstrual pains. In East Africa roots are used for eye complaints and the leaves for influenza. Together with H. decorum and H. stenopterum, H. foetidum is inhaled by traditional healers to induce a trance. Chemical constituents: involucral leaves contain helichrysin. H. foetidum is easily confused with H. cooperi, an ointment of which is made from dried leaves, and is applied to the body as a love charm by men. If the flowers are dried well, they keep their colours for winter decoration. Horticulturally helichrysums are hardy plants, have many uses and create lovely displays: an example is the ground cover H. argyrophyllum. This plant has attractive fealty silvery grey leaves that show up beautifully where it trails over an embankment, walls or stones.