How to Grow Strawflowers - Eco Organic Garden (2024)

FAQs

How to Grow Strawflowers - Eco Organic Garden? ›

Strawflowers and paper daisies are fast growing, low maintenance plants. They require full sun and whilst they can take a range of soils, last longer in fertile soil with good drainage. To keep them flowering longer (especially the annual types) it is best to not let the soil dry out completely.

Strawflowers are hardy in zones 8 through 11 and can return for a couple of years as perennials in temperate summer weather but are most often grown as annuals.

Let's look at the Pros and Cons of growing Strawflowers for cut flower use. They come in a multitude of colors and sizes. They are easy to grow and actually thrive in poorer soils. The plants are productive for a long period of time.

Once established, prefers well-drained soils and temps of 70-75°F (21-24°C). Plants may need support. Pinching is recommended to encourage uniform and productive branching.

Strawflowers thrive in full sun, although they can tolerate part shade. In the latter case, they won't bloom quite as much. Growing strawflowers in full sun will help prevent weak stems that flop.

Strawflower is dog-safe, but watch for mild stomach upset. 🐶 Monitor for allergies like sneezing or itching after ingestion. Create dog zones and use barriers for a safe garden.

Care for strawflowers correctly as they grow

Apply an organic fertilizer occasionally throughout the growing season if desired. Cut the main stem when the flower is 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) tall to encourage branching. Keep spent flowers deadheaded to encourage more blooms.

Companions. Strawflowers close at night and in rainy weather, so they are at their best in sunny beds seen during the day. Blue ageratum or airy nigella make excellent neighbors for strawflowers.

Being totally heat-tolerant, strawflowers are the perfect addition to a sunny perennial bed. Also an excellent choice for cutting gardens. These flowers, either fresh or dried, make striking, long-lasting additions to bouquets, mixed arrangements, or solo in vases.

Do strawflowers need water? ›

Strawflowers are drought tolerant but will flourish with about one inch of water per week during their growing season. You don't want their roots to stay wet (one of the reasons why raised beds with good drainage are so important), so don't water if you've received a lot of rain that week.

Strawflowers require very little care. Water the plants only when the soil feels slightly dry. Avoid wet, soggy soil, as strawflowers are prone to rot in wet conditions. If possible, water with a hose or drip system to keep the foliage dry.

Strawflowers don't come with a thirst meter, so over or under-watering can sneak up on you. Signs of overwatering include leaves that are yellow and stems that feel soft, while underwatered plants will have dry soil and wilted leaves. The pot's weight is a telltale sign; a light pot indicates a need for water.

Start with a weekly watering routine, but stay flexible. Strawflowers aren't fans of soggy feet, so let the top inch of soil dry out between sessions. During rapid growth phases, your strawflower might get thirstier, so be ready to adjust.

Strawflowers are great attractors to pollinators like bees, and butterflies.

The petals on each strawflower are like stiff paper, and they unfold from the centre to form concentric rings in bright colours. Officially a tender perennial, most gardeners treat them as annuals and simply sow fresh seed each year.

Ripe seed can be saved and kept dry for sowing the following spring, although named varieties are unlikely to come true from saved seed. Strawflowers may self-seed, although wet and cold UK winters often result in low survival rates.

If I had known that strawflowers had an H2 rating - meaning that they are only hardy down to 34 F and that only happens in a Zone 10b (where they never get a hard freeze) I wouldn't have wasted my time, opting instead for an early spring planting instead.