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Let’s plant the streets with gold – for people and the planet. 

If you’ve landed on this page, it’s probably because you’re holding a packet of sticks embedded with the seeds of the Everlasting Daisy (Xerochrysum bracteatum).

The Everlasting Daisy is found across all Australian states and territories except the NT, and grows as a compact shrub, so it’s the perfect addition to any sunny spot in your patch of nature. They are most commonly known as Golden Everlastings due to their colour in the wild, but now come in a variety of colours, including pink and orange!

Caring for your daisies

Instructions for planting are in your packet. Once you have put the seedstick into moist seed-raising mixture, the seeds should germinate in 14-21 days. Leave the seedstick in place and allow the strongest seedlings to grow on. 

When you have a good strong plant, you can transplant it into a pot, or a patch in your garden or verge. These plants thrive in sunny spots with well-drained soil. 

Hand and trowel with grey head planting a light green seedling with two leaves in a patch of lush, brown soil. Credit: TierneyMJ

Tips for looking after your daisies

  • Make sure you water regularly.  
  • Remove the finished flower heads promptly to get more flowers for longer. 
  • Try picking a bunch of flowers when they first open and hang them upside down until the stems dry out for a beautiful, dried arrangement. 
  • Prune back after flowering finishes to encourage new growth. 
A blooming Golden Everlasting Daisy with bright yellow petals, and an orange centre that contains a bee pollinating. Surrounded by other green everlasting stalks. Credit: nomis_h

Why did we pick these seeds to share?

Like most things in nature, there’s more to it if you look closer. What you might think are the flower petals are actually dry ‘bracts’ or modified leaves. The circular centre is where you’ll find more than a hundred tiny individual flowers, all clustered together. 

This is why the Golden Everlasting is such a hit with pollinators such as bees and butterflies. By simply growing native plants like these we can turn our gardens, balconies and verges into pollinator havens – and that helps the whole ecosystem.   

Spread the word

We’d love to follow your journey with the seeds, or anything else you’d like to share about how you value nature! What does nature mean to you, and how do you interact with nature in everyday life? To share with us, please post on socials with #IValueNature and tag us @greeningaustralia.

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