Crush a silvery leaf and the scent is unmistakably curry: the Italian everlasting (Helichrysum italicum) carries that aromatic grey foliage beneath little gold-yellow flowers which, once dried, seem to last for ever. Give it arid ground, sharp drainage and all the sun you can offer, and it will ask for virtually no care in return.
| Name | Helichrysum italicum |
|---|---|
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Type | perennial |
| Height | 1 ½ feet (50 cm) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | ordinary |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Flowering | early summer to mid-autumn |
A Mediterranean plant, it is often grown as an annual, but some species are hardier.
Italian everlasting, or helichrysum, loves arid regions, well-drained soil and very sunny spots.
Conversely, the Italian everlasting hates the cold or snow, because it wouldn’t survive it.
Pruning isn’t really needed, all the more because Italian everlasting has a very slow growth.
But to keep a tight, compact bearing and a dense bunch, you can prune it at the end of winter so that you can give it a nice shape.
Luckily, it’s a bit more forgiving than lavender: Helichrysum is capable of sprouting new buds from old wood as long as you only cut less than half of the stems back entirely.
If your climate allows for it (mild climates such as the Mediterranean climate, or coastal climates along the Southern states of the USA), you can keep it in the ground from one year to the next.
However, to be absolutely sure it survives in areas with harsher climates, remember to mulch the foot of your everlasting to keep the roots from freezing.
Helichrysum asks for very little, but each job has its moment. Here is what to do, when to do it, and the one point that matters each time.
| Task | When | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| Planting | Fall or spring | Full sun and soil that drains well; waterlogging is fatal |
| Propagation | Summer | Taken from cuttings |
| Pruning | End of winter, before growth restarts | Keeps a tight, compact bearing and a dense bunch |
| Winter protection | Before the frosts, in harsher climates | Mulch the foot so the roots do not freeze |
| Flowering and harvest | early summer to mid-autumn | Flower tips are distilled for essential oil |
Apart from these few moments, the plant is happiest left alone.
Helichrysum is bushy and is well suited to perennial flower beds and also to growing in pots.
Helichrysum comes from ancient Greek ‘Helios’ which means “sun” and ‘chrysos’ which means “gold”, referring to the gold yellow of its flowers.
If it is called Everlasting, it’s because its flowers when dried have such an extended lifespan that it becomes immortal…
Its gray colored foliage, quite bright, sometimes reminds one of that of lavender.
Flower tips of this particular species, Helichrysum italicum, are distilled to produce an essential oil.
Leaves are used to spice meals because its taste is very close to that of curry.
Take care though not to swallow the leaves since they are rather indigestible and can cause digestive disorders.
This plant is also used to produce essential oil extracts for its medicinal properties. Compounds in this plant’s essential oil are known to have antioxydant, antibacterial, analgesic and antifungal properties.
Fresh curry leaves (Murraya koenigii) carry largely fat-soluble aroma compounds, so briefly frying them in warm oil or butter generally releases more of their fragrance than simmering them in water does.
If you find that caring for plants is more of a chore, splurge for Helichrysum which doesn’t require any care at all!
