Billy Button or Craspedia
globosa is native to
Australia and New Zealand
where they grow in a variety
of habitats from sea level
to the Alps. The genus is
found in every state of
Australia except the
Northern Territory. In New
Zealand, Craspedia is found
south from about East Cape
in the North Island to
Stewart Island.
The brilliant yellow hue and
dense spherical shape of
Craspedia globosa make it a
striking addition to both
fresh and dried
arrangements. Craspedia is a
perennial wildflower of New
Zealand, Australia and
Tasmania. It has long,
sturdy stems. Height is 3'.
The plant requires full sun.
Flower heads are tough and
durable, making an
exceptional dried flower.
Long, rugged stems also make
excellent fresh bouquets. It
is perennial in parts of the
South and is frequently
grown as an annual
elsewhere.
Craspedia glauca's flower,
however, is not completely
circular. Becoming
increasingly popular is this
most delightful plant from
Australia with narrow,
silvery-grey leaves, and
bearing on strong, easily
arrangeable, wiry stalks
globular drumsticks.
Although usually grown as a
colorful half-hardy annual,
it is not that tender and is
well worth trying to nurse
through an average British
winter, with cloches
perhaps, when the blooms in
the second year will repay
the effort taken. 2-3 ft.
The gray leaves are linear
and grass-like. This makes
for an interesting contrast
in the garden. The yellow
flowers last for a
tremendous time on the plant
and dry fantastically.
Craspedia globosa will bloom
spring through
summer. Individual plants
will die off but I seem to
get enough seedlings to keep
them going year after year
Craspedia grows in a wide
range of soil types (sands,
gravels, clays, earths and
loams) derived from
different geologies across a
broad rainfall gradient. It
appears to be intolerant
only of extremely infertile
and acidic soils.
They last a long time, work
well as a dried flower and
are not sensitive to
ethylene.
Did you know?
-
It has been cultivated
in the United States as
a garden flower since
1988.