How to Grow Craspedia, the Yellow Ball-on-a-Stick Flower
(Craspedia globosa) aka Drumstick Flower, Sun Ball, Billy Buttons
This is one of the most fun plants, and flowers, to grow that I know! It’s a tough perennial with attractive foliage. And for almost a half a year it is in the process of sending up and developing its adorable yellow ball-shaped flowers. It’s a nice landscape plant too, especially if you have children about (they make fun toys, antennae, etc.!).
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Craspedia flowers and plants
These very unusual flowers form a solid yellow ball with a slightly rough texture (these are the tiny flowers), about an inch wide, atop a tall, stiff, sturdy stem. They’re excellent fresh and they dry without doing anything.
Craspedia is considered a tender perennial thriving in Zones 8-11. The foliage gets up to 1-1½ ft. tall and wide. Leaves are grass-like, silvery soft and slightly downy. They form a large tuft like an ornamental grass, making a striking addition to a border bed. The flower stems get up to 1½ to 2½ ft. tall.
Craspedia comes from Australia and can tolerate heat and some drought. I give mine a fairly good garden soil and average water, or a little on the dry side.
How to grow Craspedia
Zones 8-11; Sun: Full; Water:
These are perennial in USDA zones 8-11, but can be grown as an annual in colder zones with an early start. In zone 7 you may be able to use a frost cloth over them to keep them from freezing too hard in the winter.
Start them from seed 6-8 weeks before planting out, after danger of frost is past. They bloom in about 120 days from planting out. You may be able to find them in small pots in nurseries, keep your eye out for them. But you’ll most likely need the go with seed (see below for sources). See my seed starting guide here for starting many plants quickly and efficiently in a small space.
They need sun. They’ll likely bloom the first season. With earlier and more bloom the following year.
How to harvest Craspedia flowers
Super simple. Cut the stem at the base, when the flower ball is full and firm. No need for hanging to dry. Just lay it or keep it upright it to store it or work it into fresh or dried arrangements right away.
Favorite varieties
There’s only one, the plain species.
Sources for Craspedia seeds
Flowers to go with Craspedia
Globe Thistle
Brilliant blue spiky ball-shaped flowers are great for fresh and dried bouquets and wreaths.
