Chrysocephalum apiculatum
Encyclopedia
Chyrsocephalum apiculatum, known more readily by its common name of Common Everlasting, is a perennial herb native to southern Australia
. It is a member of the Asteraceae
family (daisies). It prefers sunny locations on light well drained soil. It normally occurs in grassy areas and is an important food plant for the Australian Painted Lady Butterfly
. It gains its name of 'everlasting' from its remarkable keeping ability as a cut flower. It is enjoying increasing popularity in Australia
as a cottage garden plant, but is still very little known.
Common Everlasting grows to around 40 centimeters high, with spreading horizontal stems that turn upwards as they get longer. The elongated silvery grey leaves clasp tightly to these stems and are covered in fine, silky hairs. During spring, medium-sized 'button' flowers form at the end of each stalk. They are bright yellow balls, around 1 cm in diameter each and form in clusters of several. The petals are not obvious. Like most daisies, the flowers are replaced by countless flyaway seeds which are gradually blown away by the wind. The seed germinates readily, but has a short viable life.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is a member of the Asteraceae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
family (daisies). It prefers sunny locations on light well drained soil. It normally occurs in grassy areas and is an important food plant for the Australian Painted Lady Butterfly
Australian painted lady
Vanessa kershawi, commonly known as the Australian Painted Lady, is a butterfly that is mostly confined to Australia, although westerly winds have dispersed it to islands east of Australia, including New Zealand. During spring adult butterflies migrate south in large numbers from northern states of...
. It gains its name of 'everlasting' from its remarkable keeping ability as a cut flower. It is enjoying increasing popularity in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as a cottage garden plant, but is still very little known.
Common Everlasting grows to around 40 centimeters high, with spreading horizontal stems that turn upwards as they get longer. The elongated silvery grey leaves clasp tightly to these stems and are covered in fine, silky hairs. During spring, medium-sized 'button' flowers form at the end of each stalk. They are bright yellow balls, around 1 cm in diameter each and form in clusters of several. The petals are not obvious. Like most daisies, the flowers are replaced by countless flyaway seeds which are gradually blown away by the wind. The seed germinates readily, but has a short viable life.