Helichrysum "Ruby Cluster". Pictures by david

Oh nice plant...love the wooly silvery leaves..and the ruby clusters! will have to look this one up.. does it have to grow outdoors or could this be a houseplant, too?

My one came with a label, which have just checked for you. Definitely for outdoors, I think, and the foliage dies back completely in winter. The red buds will open into multi-petalled flowers with yellow centres. It belongs to the "straw flowers" family.

Once again, Thankyou! aaahhh yes Helichrysum...I used to grow the little ones and dry them for dried arrangements or for interest in wreaths.

I'm going to grow the annual "Straw Flowers" this year, Lori. It was about the only thing I could find to connect with Scarecrow, lol! They're also known as "Everlasting Flowers" because of their ability to be dried and added to arrangements, etc. Don't think that my perennial one would take to this so kindly, tho.

You never know, David, If you can try taking one of the lovely ruby clusters and hang it up to dry (not it the greenhouse) but somewhere with good air circulation and not a lot of moisture...might make a terrific addition to next Christmas's wreaths! silver grayand red with evergreen boughs...

What a great idea, Lori. Will cut even just one stem tomorrow, and we'll see if it works!

i have several of these the problem i have found is that whilst they are flowering profusly they look untidy has the flowering stems have grown quite tall and the flowers are drooping down on to the ground i suspect my wife ha s fed them to much any thoughts how to tidy them or do they grow like this

Hi, Loudgreenfingers! Am not sure whether you refer to the perennial plant in this pic, or the annual straw flowers, which can grow quite tall, and flop. I suspect that you refer to the annuals. For these, I would install green-coloured canes around, and tie in with green thread/twine, or clear-coloured fishing-line or such-like. Also, I would never feed the annual straw flowers - coz they don't need it. Runner beans are round the "cornfield". Nature does most of the feeding. The sweetcorn requires lots of nitrogen, which is mostly supplied by the companion planting of beans, which actually draw and release nitrogen into the soil. We have kept the straw flowers outwith this immediate area as, in the past, have found that they thrive on neglected soil (like the poppies).Hope you find something useful in all this. Best Wishes!