straw flower

Xerochrysum bracteatum, commonly known as the Golden Everlasting, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Australia. It grows as a woody or herbaceous perennial or annual shrub to a metre high with green or grey leafy foliage and golden yellow or white flowerheads from spring to autumn, the distinctive feature being the papery bracts which resemble petals. Widespread, it grows in a variety of habitats across the country, from rainforest margins to deserts and subalpine areas. The Golden Everlasting serves as food for various larvae of lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and adult butterflies visit the flowerheads.