Accepted name: Xerochrysum bracteatum
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.
Bracteantha bracteata 'Cockatoo'
Flower heads pale yellow.
A garden hybrid that arose c. 1980.
Bracteantha bracteata 'Dargan Hill Monarch'
Large, spreading shrub with golden yellow flowers.
Registered with the Australian Cultivar Registration Authority in 1978 as a selection from the McPherson Ranges of SE Queensland.
It is available as a range of colour forms and name variants based on the Monarch theme.
Bracteantha bracteata 'Diamond Head'
Dwarf shrub to about 15 cm tall, with shiny yellow flowers about 3 cm wide that have orange centres; over most of the year.
Registered by the Australian Cultivar Registration Authority in 1977 as a selection from Diamond Head coastal cliffs in northern NSW.
Bracteantha bracteata 'Golden Bowerbird'
Flower heads yellow, appearing double.
A cross, B. 'Dargan Hill Monarch'× B. 'Cockatoo', c. 1980.
Bracteantha bracteata 'Hastings Gold'
Similar to B. 'Diamond Head' but with larger flower heads about 5 cm wide.
Arose c. 1979.
Bracteantha bracteata 'Monstrosum'
This name applies to what is best regarded as a cultivar group that has large flower heads with numerous bracts; individual colours are then recognised through names like 'Monstrosum Lemon', 'Monstrosum Orange' and so on. A long-standing cultivar name.
