How to Grow Everlasting
Wikimedia Commons
Everlasting
Xerochrysum bracteatum
flowerEverlastings are vibrant, papery-textured flowers prized for their ability to retain color and form when dried, making them ideal for dried arrangements and craft projects. These annual or short-lived perennial flowers produce long-lasting blooms in brilliant colors including red, pink, yellow, orange, and white. They thrive in warm, dry conditions and require minimal maintenance once established.
Looking for a specific variety?
When should you plant Everlasting in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Everlasting timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Everlasting
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
First Everlasting blooms
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Everlasting dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 8-11; grown as annuals in cooler zones (5-7)
Sign up free to see if Everlasting grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Everlasting timeline →Growth Stages
Germination & Seedling
10-14 days germination; 3-4 weeks to transplant sizeTiny seedlings emerge with simple cotyledons and quickly develop true leaves with a silvery-gray appearance.
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light immediately. Thin seedlings to appropriate spacing to prevent competition.
Vegetative Growth
3-5 weeks after transplantingPlants develop sturdy stems and narrow, gray-green foliage with a somewhat hairy texture. Growth is compact and bushy.
Reduce watering frequency as plants establish. Pinch back growing tips to encourage bushier growth and more blooms. Ensure excellent drainage to prevent root rot.
Budding
2-3 weeksDistinctive round buds form at stem tips, initially green and papery, with visible bracts (modified leaves) that will become the colorful flower parts.
Maintain consistent watering schedule; sudden drought stress can stop bud development. Support tall varieties with stakes if needed. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer to encourage flowering.
Flowering
6-12 weeks of continuous bloomPapery, daisy-like flowers open with vibrant colors and a characteristic shiny, everlasting texture. Blooms are long and fully double in many varieties.
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming. Cut flowers for drying when fully open but before petals begin dropping. Avoid overhead watering to prevent petal damage.
Drying & Harvest
Ongoing through season; 1-2 weeks for dryingFlowers naturally retain shape and color even as they dry. Stems become woody and flowers feel papery to the touch.
Harvest flowers at peak color and dryness. Hang upside-down in warm, dry, airy location (70-80°F, low humidity). Drying takes 1-2 weeks. Store in cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil in early morning; increase humidity slightly with water spray; improve air circulation
-
Blast off with water spray; use insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage beneficial predators like ladybugs
-
Yellow sticky traps; spray underside of leaves with insecticidal soap; increase air circulation
-
Improve air circulation; remove infected leaves immediately; avoid overhead watering; reduce humidity
Uses
Dried flower arrangements
CraftEverlastings are the classic choice for dried arrangements, wreaths, and long-lasting bouquets. Their papery texture and vibrant colors remain beautiful for months or even years. [source]
Home decoration and wreaths
HouseholdCreate festive wreaths, garlands, and dried flower crafts that provide year-round natural home decor without wilting or requiring water. [source]
Wedding and event flowers
CraftEverlastings are popular for weddings, corsages, and special events where flowers need to withstand handling and last throughout the occasion. [source]
Pollinator support
WildlifeEverlasting flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators to the garden, supporting local ecosystems while providing fresh blooms. [source]
Edible flower garnish
CulinarySome everlasting varieties produce edible flowers that can garnish salads and desserts, adding vibrant color and a delicate floral flavor. [source]
Harvest Tips
Cut flowers for drying when blooms are fully open but not yet dropping petals, typically mid-morning after dew dries. Harvest frequently to promote more blooms. For drying, cut long stems (12-18 inches), bundle 5-10 stems loosely with twine, and hang upside-down in a warm (70-80°F), dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Drying takes 1-2 weeks. Store dried arrangements in cool, dry conditions away from moisture and sunlight to preserve color.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Everlastings earned their name because their papery bracts (modified leaves) retain color and shape indefinitely when dried, making them one of nature's most durable flowers.
- 🌱 These flowers are native to Australia and thrive in hot, dry climates with poor soil, making them exceptionally low-maintenance once established.
- 🌱 Victorian-era gardeners were obsessed with everlastings and dried flower arrangements, often incorporating them into elaborate tussie-mussies (small bouquets with coded flower meanings).
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Everlasting planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Everlasting seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Everlasting timeline →