Helichrysum foetidum
Helichrysum foetidum
One packet contains 10 seeds.
Helichrysum foetidum is a biennial herb with a simple or sparsely branched stem reaching up to 1 m tall. This species of the everlasting flower genus is native to tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and is both frost and drought-tolerant, commonly found on rocky slopes. It prefers a sunny position in sandy soil with good drainage, disliking overwatering. The plant’s young parts are thinly covered with white hairs. Leaves, which wither during flowering, grow grouped around the base of the stem. Helichrysum foetidum is particularly striking for its clusters of flowerheads wreathed in petal-like bright yellow bracts. These give the species the common name "yellow everlasting," although the plant's strong aroma sometimes leads it to be called “stinking everlasting.” Yet Helichrysum foetidum is still used in traditional medicine; the leaves make a wound dressing and along with twigs and roots have been applied to treat colds, fever, headache, and infections.
Minimum tested germination rate is 78%
Collected in 2022 in Kenya