A perennial everlasting daisy bearing masses of papery golden-yellow flowers over grey-green foliage through the warmer months. A long-flowering bee-friendly cut flower and border plant.
At a glance
- Plant type: Perennial
- Mature size: 60 cm H × 50 cm W
- Aspect: full sun
- Water: happy on low water
- Frost: hardy
- Maintenance: low maintenance
- Origin: Australian native
About Golden Everlasting
Botanically, Xerochrysum bracteatum 'Cockatoo' is a fast-growing perennial in the Asteraceae family, native to New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. It reaches around 60 cm tall and 50 cm wide at maturity, with evergreen and silver-grey foliage. Yellow flowers appear for much of the year.
Where to grow Golden Everlasting
Golden Everlasting suits warm-temperate, cool-temperate, Mediterranean and subtropical climates and grows best in full sun. It is frost hardy and shrugs off cold winters. It also is a genuinely water-wise choice and is usually left alone by rabbits.
Soil & planting
Golden Everlasting does best in free-draining and sandy soil. Plant into well-prepared ground, firm the soil around the roots and water deeply to settle it in.
Watering & feeding
Golden Everlasting is happy on low water, so once its roots are down it needs little supplementary water. As an Australian native, feed it only with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser. In its first year, water deeply once or twice a week to settle the roots in, then taper off as it establishes.
Pruning & care
Prune Golden Everlasting after flowering to keep it compact and encourage the next flush of blooms. Overall it is low maintenance.
Using Golden Everlasting in the garden
Golden Everlasting earns its place for cut flowers for the vase, pots and courtyard containers and feeding bees and pollinators. It is equally at home in the ground or a large pot on a balcony or courtyard.
Companion planting & design
For a cohesive, low-care bed, pair Golden Everlasting with other plants that enjoy the same happy on low water and warm-temperate climate. Repeat it through a border to tie the planting together and give a sense of rhythm. It combines naturally with other Australian natives in a habitat or water-wise garden.
Buying Golden Everlasting
Plant Sale lists Golden Everlasting as tube stock, potted plants, advanced specimens and seed. Stock isn't live yet — register your interest using the panel above and we'll email you the moment it lands.
Prefer to grow it yourself? See the Golden Everlasting seed sowing guide for depth, timing and germination.