Chrysocephalum 'Desert Flame'

Desert Flame Everlasting / Desert Flame Yellow Buttons

Botanical Name: Chrysocephalum apiculatum ‘Desert Flame’
Family: Asteraceae
Origin: Australia
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial groundcover

Overview

Low, spreading native with silvery foliage and masses of vivid golden–orange, papery button flowers for months. Excellent for hot, dry sites, rockeries and containers; great as a cut or dried flower.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.2-0.3 m H x 0.4-0.6 m W
• Growth Rate: 15-30 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Fine, silver-grey to grey-green, softly textured
• Flowers: Bright golden to orange “everlasting” buttons in long flushes
  
• Seasonal Interest: Spring–autumn peak; spot colour outside peak in mild climates
• Wildlife Value: Attracts bees, butterflies and other pollinators
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant, second-line coastal-tolerant; light frost (protect from hard frost)
• Planting Density: Mass plant 3–5/m² (for full cover); edging 3–4 per linear metre
• Pet Friendly: Generally non-toxic; any plant ingestion may upset pets

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun (best flowering) to light part shade
• Soil: Free-draining sandy or loamy soils; raised beds or mounded sites in heavier ground
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Lightly shear after major flushes to keep compact and encourage rebloom; deadhead spent stems. Feed in early spring with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser. Mulch to keep roots cool, but avoid burying the crown
• Lifespan: Short-lived perennial (approx. 2–5+ years); often refreshed by replanting or division every 3–4 years
• Climate Zones: Temperate & Mediterranean SA, including coastal areas
• Soil pH: Acid to neutral; tolerates slightly alkaline if drainage is sharp

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Mass plant for a glowing carpet along paths, verges and hot, sunny banks
• Rockery and gravel gardens with other drought-tough natives and succulents
• Containers and courtyard pops of colour; great for cut/dried arrangements

Why You Will Love It

Sun-loving, low-care native that blankets beds with long-lasting, jewel-bright blooms. Silvery foliage, pollinator appeal and superb cut/dried flowers make it a high-impact choice for water-wise gardens.