Strawflower 'Giants Mixed' Seeds

Sow from March to June. Seedlings usually appear in 7–14 days. Watering: moderate; drought tolerant once established.

You can sow strawflower seeds outdoors later in the season once the soil has warmed, but they are generally more dependable when started indoors or under cover first. That gives them a steadier start and helps them flower earlier in summer.

Strawflower seeds benefit from light and should not be buried too deeply. A light covering of compost or a gentle press into the surface is usually enough, provided the compost stays lightly moist and free-draining.

Strawflowers are loved for their papery, long-lasting blooms. They work well in sunny borders, cutting gardens, and dried arrangements because the flowers hold their shape and colour so well after cutting. Botanically it is Xerochrysum bracteatum, and it also goes by Golden everlasting, strawflower and asteraceae. It is an annual, completing its whole life in one season, so sow again the following year.

Yes. Strawflowers can do very well in UK gardens if they are given warmth, sun, and good drainage. Starting them under cover in spring is often the best route, especially in cooler areas.

Once started well and planted out into warm conditions, strawflowers usually flower through summer. Exact timing depends on sowing date and weather, but an early protected sowing generally gives the longest display. Harvest: Pick flowers when fully open for lasting bouquets. Flowering runs July to October.

Yes — this is a straightforward packet to give, and what makes it work as a gift is mostly timing. Sowing runs March to June, so a packet given inside that window can go straight in, and one given outside it keeps perfectly well until the season comes round.

There are approximately 250 seeds in the packet, so there is plenty to share. On effort it needs some love, which matters if you are giving it to someone new to growing. It suits pots, beds and cut flower gardens, so it works for a small space as well as a garden.