Dark Scarlet Straw Flower

Dark Scarlet Straw Flower (Xerochrysum bracteatum 'Dark Scarlet') is a bushy Australian paper daisy that grows 50cm to 1m tall and 30cm to 60cm wide. Deep scarlet, papery flowers with golden centres sit above silvery-green foliage, and they last well in a vase or dried. It is a bold splash of colour for sunny beds and pots.

Why you'll love it

• True deep scarlet. The papery petals are a rich red around a bright golden centre, so the colour reads clearly against silver and green foliage.
• Months of flowers. A well grown plant keeps producing blooms over a long season in warm weather.
• Cut flowers that last. The stiff, papery petals hold their shape in a vase and dry well for arrangements.
• Tough once settled. It handles light frost and dry spells once established.
• A native that feeds pollinators. Paper daisies are a favourite of bees and butterflies, which suits a wildlife friendly bed.

Where it works best

Garden beds and borders. Plant 40cm apart for a dense mass of colour at the front or middle of a sunny border. The bushy plants meet in a season and look best in a group of five or more.

Pots and containers. The compact habit suits a pot in full sun. Use a free draining potting mix and pinch out the tips while the plant is young to keep it bushy.

A picking patch. Grow a few plants for cutting. Pick the stems when the flowers are just opening, then hang them upside down in a dry, airy spot to preserve them.

Growing Dark Scarlet Straw Flower in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun in a warm to temperate climate. It handles light frost, so it suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens. In humid summers choose an open spot with good airflow.

Soil. Well drained soil is essential. It accepts poor or sandy ground, but a plant sitting in wet soil will rot at the base.

Water and feed. Mulch on planting and water regularly until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks. Afterwards it copes with dry spells. If you feed, use a low phosphorus native fertiliser.

Pruning. Deadhead spent flower stems as needed, which keeps the plant tidy and encourages more buds. Like most paper daisies it is a short lived perennial, so expect to refresh it every few years.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Dark Scarlet Straw Flower as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Expect a small plant on arrival that bushes out before it flowers heavily. Plant it into a sunny, well drained spot soon after it arrives.

The tube comes from our grower and is not always in supply. When it shows as sold out, use the notify button on this page and you will get an email the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Native plants with red flowers for your garden
• More Australian native plants
• Plants that attract bees and butterflies
• Plants that thrive in pots

Common questions

How do I dry the flowers?

Cut the stems when the flowers are just opening, strip the lower leaves and hang the bunch upside down in a dry, airy, shaded spot for a couple of weeks. The petals keep their colour well.

Will it come back every year?

It is a short lived perennial, so it usually lasts a few seasons. Deadheading and cutting it back lightly after the main flush helps it live longer.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. Choose a pot with drainage holes, a free draining mix and a position in full sun, and water it more often than a plant in the ground.