Flannel Flower
Actinotus helianthi
Actinotus helianthi, commonly known as the Flannel Flower, is a beautiful Australian native shrub. It is easily distinguished by its soft, velvety, flannel-like star-shaped flower heads that bloom in spring and summer. The flowers are white to cream-coloured, surrounded by woolly, daisy-like bracts with grey-green, deeply divided soft leaves. Growing in sandy sandstone soils, it is highly prized for native gardens and cut flowers.
Native Origin & Climate
Sandy soils, coastal sandstone heathlands, and dry sclerophyll forests of central and eastern New South Wales and Queensland.
Expert Pruning Tip
Trim the plant lightly after flowering in summer to stimulate new compact growth and encourage more velvety flowers for the next season.
In-Situ Environment
Urban Botanics Art
Botanical Blueprint
Localized Australian Care Taxonomy
Green Thumb Required. Demanding. Requires excellent drainage, sandy soils, and sensitive roots that resent disturbance.
Full sun. Needs at least 6 hours of direct sun daily to maintain its silvery-grey leaves and produce healthy, velvety flower heads.
Low. Allow the soil to dry out almost completely between waterings. Highly sensitive to damp or waterlogged soils, which lead to root rot.
Extremely well-draining, sandy, acidic potting soil. A premium native low-phosphorus soil mix with extra coarse sand or gravel is ideal.
Adapted to cool, damp winters and dry, warm summers. Handles coastal breezes and wind well, but struggles in high wet humidity.
Propagation is done from seed or semi-hardwood stem cuttings during summer.
Velvety, soft, and star-like. Soft grey-green leaves and fuzzy white flower heads create a gentle, textured native Australian look.
Ideal for sunny native garden beds, coastal garden rockeries, or potted in a well-draining terracotta container.
Outdoor
Safe:Non-toxic to pets and humans. A very safe native addition to gardens.
Local Availability
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