Ammobium Alatum Winged Everlasting is a Perennial Asteraceae Summer Flower
WINGED EVERLASTING
The winged stems of these everlasting flowers grow bolt upright and that is exactly as it should be, because they are grown specially for cutting purposes. This is done in July-August, as soon as the yellowy-white flowers are half open, because then they will last well as dried flowers. They are tied together in small bunches and hung upside down in an airy position to make them dry quickly and keep their attractive appearance.
Ammobium alatum is native to eastern Australia, where it grows to about 39 in in height. Cultivated varieties are usually shorter in order to keep the stems upright while they are growing. The richly flowering Ammobium alatum ‘Grandiflorum’ grows about 28 in tall. The 1996 winner of a Fleuroselect Gold Medal, Ammobium alatum ‘Bikini,’ is particularly popular among growers of flowers for drying because of the uniformity of its flowers and its sturdy stems, about 12-16 in tall. The flower heads are about 3/4 in wide. Sow indoors in March-April, or out-of-doors in poor, well-drained soil in a sunny position in April-May.
Ammobium alatum (Winged Everlasting) is a perennial Asteraceae native to Eastern Australia, and is the only member of the genus Ammobium. The flowers are small and have white petals with a yellow centre, they can be dried. The stems are grey with an unusual external ribbing. It is an important foodplant for Australian painted lady caterpillars.
