Strawflower, Tall Double Mix

Strawflowers belong to a large and controversial genus of flowers whose common trait is that when their blossoms are harvested young and dried, the blossoms retain their shape and color for years. The Strawflower, an annual, is native to many areas of the world including Africa-especially South Africa where more than 200 distinct species can be found, Madagascar, Australasia and Eurasia. The plant has been cultivated for thousands of years for its beauty and for its medicinal qualities. The Greeks used strawflowers mixed with honey to cure burns and the Victorians used strawflowers to decorate their fireplace screens. In many cultures, including the United States, strawflowers were grown so that their blossoms could be dried and used as decorations throughout the winter. Joseph Breck, in his great 1851 book on the American flower garden, Breck’s Book of Flowers, writes, “A family of plants much admired on account of the beauty of their flowers, when dried; which, if gathered when they first open, and carefully dried, retain their color and shape for many years.” Strawflower blossoms come in every color of the rainbow except blue.