Family:

Asteraceae

Chrysocephalum apiculatum

Yellow Buttons

(syn. Helichrysum apiculatum)

Other Names: Common Everlasting

Regional Subspecies:

Occurrence:

Habitat & Site Selection:

Various communities and vegetation types on range of soils.

Habit:

Variable perennial herb 7-60 cm high forming loose clumps of woolly silver-leafed stems. Golden-yellow flowers, mostly spring.

Seed Collection:

Dec-Jan. Monitor closely as mature seeds dispersed by wind.

Propagation:

From surface-sown seed. Germinates in 2-5 weeks. Capillary watering recommended. Also from cuttings.

Regeneration:

May die back in dry conditions, but re-shoots after rain.

VALUES:

Land Protection:

Excellent groundcover for bare or disturbed sites. Plant in groups for best effect, at 60- 70 cm spacing. Prune old stems to ground when plants start growing in autumn. Main growth autumn and spring. Palatable to stock. Eliminated by overgrazing.

Wildlife:

Good habitat. Flowers are a nectar source for native bees and butterflies. Insect-eating birds attracted.

Ornamental:

Ornamental for groundcover, rockeries, slopes, containers, hanging baskets and for cut and dried flowers.

Other:

Used by European settlers to kill intestinal worms.