Flannel Flowers (Actinotus helianthi) are charming and oh so perfect for Australian gardens. If you have never seen one in real life they have a felty softness to the leaves and flowers and usually a pale pastel green tip to each white petal. They are also an incredible sight in the wild in places like the national parks that dot the coast south of Sydney if you can make it there in late spring to early summer.

Flannel flowers look the best when mass planted. So don’t restrict yourself to one or two plants, or even just 3. If you can find them then buy in bulk as they look better when planted together in a solid clump. This way they provide support for each other and show off their spectacular flowering together. You also won’t feel as guilty if you snip some flowers for enjoying inside this way! Ideal to be planted in a rockery, in sandy coastal gardens and dry flowering meadows.

Flannel flowers grow naturally as wildflowers in some rather harsh environment such as on sandy escarpments and on roadsides. Don’t coddle them – they will die! Treat them mean – allow them to dry out and ensure they have good sunlight and airflow around them. For the best results prune off the flowers regularly and take them inside to enjoy in a vase. In the garden Flannel Flowers (Actinotus helianthi) do sometimes self seed but generally you should plant seeds and seedlings this year for flowers in 2 years time.