Paper Daisy Season is Back!
It’s that time of year again—Paper Daisy season! These gorgeous, papery-textured blooms are also known as strawflowers or everlasting daisies. Native to Australia—especially Western Australia—these vibrant, long-lasting flowers have become a highlight in our garden.
We're now in our third year of growing Paper Daisies, and it’s been a beautiful, messy, and educational journey.
Year 1: The “Throw and Grow” Experiment (2023)
Back in 2023, we went in with zero prep and full optimism. We scattered a small test pack of about 50 seeds directly into the garden using the simple "throw and grow" technique. Sadly, only about three flowers emerged. It was a bit of a flop, but it sparked our curiosity and determination to try again—just with a little more effort.
Year 2: Learning and Improving (2024)
In 2024, we cut out a garden strip between two Protea trees. We laid down some garden soil, sprinkled the seeds on top, and lightly dusted over them with more soil to prevent them from blowing away. Success! We had a lovely little patch of flowers. At the end of the season, I harvested a few seed heads once the centers started going fluffy. The rest of the flowers were folded down onto the soil and covered with some "Esk dirt" to self-seed naturally.
Year 3: A Bit of a Setback (2025)
Fast-forward to this year—2025. We were thrilled to see Paper Daisies popping up again, but not quite as many as we expected. We suspect the "Esk dirt" may have been too heavy and formed a crust, making it harder for the new seedlings to break through.
Still, it's exciting to see what’s blooming. Below is the very first Paper Daisy to flower this season—a tiny but proud survivor, there is still more to come.
Plans Moving Forward
At the end of this flowering season, we plan to:
- Harvest more seed heads once they're fluffy and ready
- Try the fold-over technique again, but this time cover the flower heads with lighter garden soil
- Possibly cut the remaining plants more evenly to encourage a better spread of seeds
Each year we learn a little more, and the joy of watching these resilient native flowers bloom makes every bit of effort worth it.
Have you grown Paper Daisies before? I’d love to hear your tips or see your blooms—let’s share the joy of everlasting flowers!
The team at G’s Lane