Goldstick
Craspedia globosa, aka Drumstick Flower, Sunball, Billy Buttons
Goldstick 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 young children about (they make fun toys, antennae, etc.!)
It comes from Australia…no wonder it’s so unusual!
Flowers
These very unusual flowers form a solid yellow ball, about an inch wide, atop a tall, stiff, sturdy stem. They’re excellent fresh and they dry without doing anything.
Plants
Craspedia is considered a tender perennial in Zones 8-11. The plants get up to 1 ½ ft. to 2 ft. tall and wide. Leaves are grass-like, silvery and slightly downy. And they form a large tuft like an ornamental grass, making a striking addition to a border bed.
On this page
Growing the plants
Craspedia is considered a tender perennial in Zones 8-11. The plants get up to 1 ½ ft. to 2 ft. tall and wide. Leaves are grass-like, silvery and slightly downy. And they form a large tuft like an ornamental grass, making a striking addition to a border bed.
Harvesting
Nothing could be easier to harvest than this flower. Wait until its florets open to give the full yellow color and cut at the base of the stem. You’re good to go for putting them into a bouquet or into a vase to let “dry”, it will stay the same.
You can easily store some away to use in your dried arrangements or wreaths for cheer in the winter.
Favorite varieties
There’s only one, and it goes by so many names, as mentioned above.
How many plants
One plant, when mature, can produce at least a dozen flowers . So you will have lots. If you put it in a landscape situation, always use odd numbers, starting with three. That’s a rule, the eye feels more at peace with odd numbers.
Sources
Johnny’s Seeds, Swallowtail Garden Seeds, and Botanical Interests carry the seeds. I have once seen goldstick in 6-packs in a nursery, but sadly just once. You may find it from a small specialty grower at a spring plant sale or a farmers market.
