Helichrysum orientale (Yellow Immortelle)

Flat silver-green puberulent leaves. What a great word - touch the leaves and you'll see what we mean. Perennial from North Africa, Crete, Turkey and Greece. The foliage grows to 30cms with clusters of yellow button flowers surrounded by neat papery bracts.

A plant for light sandy soil in full sun, drought tolerant, can be damaged by rain, heavy dews and can suffer with winter wet. the dried flowers are used in floristry, potpourri and when dyed black, for mourning garlands.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.