Helichrysum orientale aka Eastern Strawflower

Helichrysum orientale also goes by the name yellow immortelle. It belongs to Asteraceae, the daisy family. Its home range spans the Aegean islands and western Turkey. Kew also lists southwestern Turkey and northwestern Egypt. Plants For A Future lists Greece, with Crete included. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. This perennial lives for more than two years. It grows about 1 foot [0.3 metres] tall. It keeps its leaves all year.

Plants For A Future gives July to August as bloom time. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects help the flowers set seed through pollination. The supplied species accounts give no more flower or fruit details. They give no detailed account of leaves or stems either. Gardeners grow it in beds and for its scent. Its essential oil has a use in perfume blends.

Choose a sunny, sheltered site where the soil drains well. The plant cannot grow in shade. Both sandy soil and loam suit its needs. Soil can be slightly acid, neutral, or slightly alkaline. It can grow in dry or moist soil. But water must drain away rather than build up. Once plants have settled in, they can cope with drought. Too much water, though, can cause problems. The plant can stand strong winds, but not sea winds.

Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 6–9. It says plants cope with cold to about 5°F [-15°C]. Yet winter wet can make plants less likely to survive outdoors. That cold limit alone does not show this risk. The same source finds a cold greenhouse more reliable. Sow seeds under glass in February or March. At 68°F [20°C], seeds tend to sprout within two to three weeks. Keep young plants under glass through at least their first winter.

Give each seedling its own pot once it is large enough. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after expected frosts. You can also take half-ripe cuttings with a heel. Do this in June or July. These can root in a frame in about four weeks. Plants For A Future lists no known food or medicinal uses. It lists no known hazards, but this does not prove food safety. Its weed review records no weed potential. In the supplied evidence, excess water remains the main growing problem.