The strawflower (Helichrysum) is a species of plant with more than 600 known subspecies. Therefore, the sensitivity to frost depends on the respective species and cannot be stated as a general rule for the entire genus.
Are strawflowers hardy?
Strawflowers are partially hardy, depending on their subspecies. Perennial and winter-hardy varieties survive the winter with targeted pruning and root protection, while frost-sensitive species can be overwintered as houseplants.
Perennial and winter-hardy varieties get through the winter better
Some subspecies of strawflower are explicitly offered in specialist stores as frost-resistant and hardy. These are often species that also occur naturally in Europe or hybrids that descend from natural species in Europe. With targeted care, you can help these plants to sprout again vigorously in the same location in the garden the following spring. To do this, cut the plants back to the ground in autumn and cover their root area with some brushwood and leaves. This means that the plant roots are not only better protected from the winter cold, but also from too much moisture.
Bring annual strawflowers into the house
Some hobby gardeners also want to extend the lifespan of their beloved strawflowers from the very frost-sensitive species. In particular, the compact strawflowers that grow in pots can be brought to the windowsill in autumn. But there are also other ways to bring the splendor of strawflowers into your home on a more permanent basis. After all, strawflowers retain their original flower colors relatively well even when dried. Please note, however, that you should cut off the strawflower flowers intended for dry bouquets if they have not yet fully bloomed.
Simply grow straw flowers yourself from seeds
Even with the annual species of strawflower, the end of the garden season does not have to mean goodbye forever. If the plants don't already spread in your garden through self-sowing, you can also help out a little yourself. You can either prefer straw flowers in sowing soil on the windowsill from March or sow the seeds directly outdoors from the Ice Saints onwards. The following factors generally apply to sowing strawflowers:
- These are dark germinators (although the seeds should only be thinly covered with soil)
- don’t sow too densely
- during the germination phase, never let the substrate dry out completely
- germination takes about 2 weeks
Tip
So that the hardy varieties of the strawflower survive the winter, something should be watered during clear frosts and winter protection made up of mulch, leaves and twigs should be provided.
