Helipterum Pierrot - Everlasting

This Australian everlasting, also known as Helipterum roseum Pierrot, or Rhodanthe chlorocephale, is a stunning variety with paper-like textured heads. Its round inflorescence features a black and yellow centre, surrounded by a double white collar, and is carried by a sturdy leafy stem. The abundance and unusual colour of the flowers evoke a cloud of flying wasps. However, these annuals have nothing prickly about them, proudly rising above grey-green helichrysum foliage. These plants from arid lands tolerate drought and heat. They are perfect in containers, borders, as well as in dried or fresh bouquets.

The Australian everlasting is a frost-tender perennial plant from the Asteraceae family, native to the Southwest of Australia, under the influence of a Mediterranean climate with wet winters and dry summers. This plant, mostly grown as an annual, is particularly adapted to difficult conditions and drought. The Pierrot variety forms a clump composed of leafy stems 45 cm (18in) tall, with a silhouette resembling that of curry plant (Helichrysum italicum). The fine and elongated foliage that covers the stems is silver-green. Flowering takes place from July to October, in the form of heads about 4 cm (2in) in diameter. They are very graphic, with a double collar formed by dry, white bracts that reflect light, around a heart striped with yellow and black. They tend to close in cloudy weather.

Use the Australian everlasting in borders, sunny flower beds, rockeries, anywhere with well-drained soil. Plant it at the front accompanied by California poppies, which also thrive in poor soils, backed by artemisias or shrubby salvias in a dry garden. This plant also performs well in pots and containers. The flower buds are already decorative. The Helipterum Pierrot, like other varieties, can be used to create unique bouquets with fresh or dried flowers. To make dried bouquets, the flowers should be picked before fully blooming, tied together with raffia, and hung upside down in a dark, cool, dry, and airy place.