Immortelle
Helichrysum arenarium · Asteraceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant immortelle: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Common name
- Helichrysum arenarium
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Plant type
- Perennial herbaceous
- Adult size
- 20 to 40 cm tall
- Flowering
- June to September, golden yellow flowers
- Foliage
- Persistent, silvery-grey, downy
- Hardiness
- Down to -15 °C
- Origin
- Central and eastern Europe, sandy regions
Care
Sunlight
The sand immortelle demands full sun exposure, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. It struggles in shade and becomes leggy without adequate light. Plant it in an open location, preferably facing south or west.
Soil and drainage
This plant thrives in poor, sandy or gravelly, well-drained soils. It tolerates heavy soils and stagnant moisture poorly. Improve drainage by adding coarse sand or gravel if your soil is clay-based.
Watering
Water moderately at planting time. Once established, the immortelle resists drought well thanks to its downy foliage. In pots or dry soil, water lightly in summer; reduce drastically in winter. Avoid excess moisture at all costs.
Pruning and cutting
Prune lightly in spring to maintain a compact, bushy shape. Remove spent flowers regularly to extend flowering. The dried flowers keep intact for a long time, naturally.
Fertilizing
The immortelle needs only light feeding, or none if the soil is adequate. Excess feeding promotes rot. If you do fertilize, limit yourself to very dilute spring application.
Diseases and pests
Very hardy, it mainly dreads excessive moisture which causes rot. In overly humid conditions, improve air circulation around the foliage and reduce watering. Pests are rare on this robust species.
Did you know?
The sand immortelle owes its name to the remarkable ability of its flowers to retain their shape and golden yellow colour long after drying, without any special treatment: this is why it has been collected for centuries for dried arrangements. In central Europe, it was traditionally used for decorative purposes, particularly in winter floral compositions.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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- WormwoodArtemisia absinthium
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.