Family: Apiaceae
Common Name: Flannel Flower

Native to Australia and New Zealand, this small genus of annual and biennial herbs grows wild in woodland, sandstone and alpine areas. Both the daisy-like flowers, which appear in spring and summer, and the foliage have a whitish, woolly, flannel-like appearance and texture. The woolly hairs and flannel-like appearance are an adaptation to heat and dryness in the coastal species and to extreme conditions in the alpine species. Their gray, finely divided foliage provides good landscape contrast and color, and some alpine species have potential as rockery plants. They are not well known outside their native countries and in fact even there they are a bit of a challenge to grow. It would be best to grow them as pot plants in a cool greenhouse or conservatory or as half-hardy annuals. Their flowers are excellent for cutting for use in floral arrangements.

Species

There are various species but only the following are in general Cultivation.

A. helianthi, flannel flower, is the best known. A robust plant, found in heathland or forest, it grows to a height of 60 cm (24 in) with velvety, greenish white foliage and large white or pale green flowers with flannel appearance and texture.

A. minor, miniature flannel flower, has tiny white flowers.

Cultivation

These plants need an acidic sandy soil with added humus, good drainage and moisture. Propagate from seed, although germination is often poor. Outdoors in suitable Climates seed can be sown in seed beds in spring and the young plants planted out in autumn. In frost-prone Climates treat them as half-hardy annuals: raise under glass in spring and plant out when frosts are over. Grow pot plants in well-drained, soil-based potting compost.

Climate

Mild and subtropical Climates, including coastal.