Xerochrysum Bracteatum 'Dark Scarlet'

Everlasting Daisy / Paper Daisy / Strawflower

Botanical Name: Xerochrysum bracteatum ‘Dark Scarlet’
Family: Asteraceae
Origin: Native to Australia (widespread)
Plant Type: Short-lived perennial or annual flowering plant

Overview

Xerochrysum bracteatum ‘Dark Scarlet’ is a brilliant, long-flowering native daisy prized for its striking deep red-scarlet papery blooms and tough, sun-loving nature. Perfectly suited to Adelaide’s Mediterranean climate, this variety provides months of bold colour in garden beds, borders, and containers. With its fine green foliage and continuous blooms from spring through autumn, it’s ideal for low-water, pollinator-friendly gardens. The flowers are also excellent for cut or dried arrangements, retaining their vibrant colour for months.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.3–0.6 m H × 0.3–0.5 m W
• Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Fine to narrow mid-green leaves, forming a soft clumping base; may take on silver or bronze tints in cool or dry weather
• Flowers: Large, deep scarlet-red papery blooms with yellow centres; spring to late autumn (August–April in SA)
  
• Seasonal Interest: Long flowering season, vivid colour through warm months
• Wildlife Value: Attracts bees, butterflies, and native pollinators
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant, coastal-tolerant (front-line); light frost (protect from hard frost)
• Planting Density: 3–5 plants per m² for full coverage
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ingesting large amounts of foliage may cause mild tummy upset

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun is essential for best flowering; tolerates light shade, but blooms are fewer
• Soil: Prefers free-draining sandy or loamy soils; thrives in slightly acidic to neutral soils
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 6–8 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Deadhead spent blooms to extend flowering season; Light trim in late autumn to tidy and encourage compact growth; May self-seed gently in good conditions; Feed with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring
• Lifespan: Typically 2–3 years (often grown as a seasonal or biennial plant)
• Climate Zones: Ideal for temperate and Mediterranean SA, including Adelaide Plains, Hills, and coastal gardens
• Soil pH: Neutral to slightly acidic (tolerates slightly alkaline)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Native & Pollinator Gardens: Perfect for bee-friendly borders, mixed native beds, and dry floral meadows
• Cottage & Colour Beds: Pairs beautifully with blue salvias, kangaroo paws, Scaevola, and daisies for bold seasonal contrast
• Coastal Gardens: Thrives in sandy, low-water coastal soils typical of Adelaide’s outer suburbs
• Containers & Alfresco Spaces: Use in pots, troughs, or balcony planters for months of low-maintenance colour
• Cut & Dried Flowers: Flowers retain colour when dried, making them ideal for indoor arrangements or crafts

Why You Will Love It

A brilliant, waterwise native daisy that brings intense red colour and pollinator activity to Adelaide gardens for most of the year. ‘Dark Scarlet’ thrives in heat, poor soil, and coastal winds—making it one of the easiest, most reliable colour plants for low-maintenance South Australian gardens.