Strawflower

Xerochrysum bracteatum
Unusual flower perfect for drying.
Those who think of flowers as soft and tender things are in for a surprise when they plant Strawflower. As its name suggests, its blooms are straw-like: crisp, papery, and sturdy. These are not botanical petals but are bracts, special leaves that draw in pollinators and stay colorful for years if stored somewhere dry (hence the flower’s alias, “Everlasting”). Bring the colors of summer into your home to keep your gardening dreams alive all winter with these showy, festive blooms.

About Hudson Valley Seed Company
These folks are both farmers and storytellers. They are committed to growing organically, sourcing locally and sustainably, and preserving crop diversity by selecting unique, rare, and hard-to-find varieties. All of their seeds are open pollinated, many are heirloom and organic, and they are never GMO. They were one of the first companies to sign the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI), and remain committed to their values of sustainability.

They believe that a seed is more than meets the eye: it is a time capsule telling tales of the plants, crops, and people that came before us. Every seed has a story, sometimes going back thousands of years. At Hudson Valley Seed Company, they aim to celebrate these stories, and they’ve found the best medium in which to do so is art. Each year, they commission artists to tell the story of a particular seed variety.