Annual or possibly perennial herb to 1m tall, glandular-hairy. Stems erect, branched. Leaves elliptic, to 12 cm long, to 20 mm wide, acute. Capitula to about 3 cm across, few to many in terminal panicles or corymbs; spring to summer. Involucral bracts in many rows, golden yellow. Florets yellow. [Helichrysum bracteatum (Vent.) Andrews]
Australia, all states and mainland territories.
A very variable species in need of revision.
This species is available as a range of cultivars and some breeding and selection has been carried out in Europe. Cultivars are propagated from firm young cuttings but there is also a range of named seed mixes available.
B. viscosa (DC.) Anderb. & Haegi, Sticky Everlasting, from NSW and Vic is an erect sticky annual herb with narrow leaves, capitula to 3 cm across and yellow involucral bracts and florets. [Helichrysum viscosum Spreng.]
Source: (2002). Asteraceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press. (as Bracteantha bracteata)
