How to Grow Strawflowers For Your Cut Flower Garden From Seed Indoors

Have you ever seen strawflowers in a flower arrangement? They are such a unique and stunning cut flower. I’ll share my tips on growing strawflowers from seed indoors, how to transplant them into the garden, and much more.

Strawflowers are one of the most unique flowers in my cutting garden.

I have a serious love affair with this most versatile cut flower. I had never even heard of or seen a strawflower until 3 years ago when I started looking through Floret Flower’s seed selection and became both curious and fascinated.

Strawflower petals (they are really modified leaves called bracts) are like stiff paper and hold their shape and color well as dried flowers. These bracts serve to protect the tender flower parts within until they are ready to open and be pollinated

Strawflowers, which are members of the aster family, are heat-loving and drought-tolerant plants. Their green leaves are covered in dense hairs that protect the plant from drying out.

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Note: I am not a Master Gardener, but a self-taught hobby gardener who shares my opinions and what has worked for me in the garden.

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The Perfect Cutting Flower

Strawflowers are the perfect cut flower for any summer or early fall bouquet.

• They come in a variety of colors: warm tones of yellow, orange, and red as well as pink and white.
• Strawflowers have blooms that have a long-lasting color and need very little care or maintenance.
• The flower heads make great additions for dried floral arrangements and potpourri.
• Known for its everlasting papery blooms that hold their color and shape indefinitely when dried.
• Strawflowers can be used in floral bouquets either fresh or dried.
• They are great attractors to pollinators.

To see more posts about growing a cut flower garden, click HERE.

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When to Grow Strawflowers from Seed

When starting strawflower seeds indoors, sow seeds in trays 6-8 weeks before the last frost of the season. To see when you’re average last frost date is, click HERE.

If you sow the seeds earlier than the recommended time frame, the seedlings will quickly outgrow their pots before the weather has warmed enough to put them out into the garden.

Strawflowers can also be sown directly in the ground as soon as the threat of freezing has passed.

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Supplies to Sow Seeds

• Strawflower Seeds
• Seed Starter Potting Mix
• Containers
• Drainage Tray
• Plastic Dome Lid
• Heat Mat
• Labels

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Steps for Sowing Strawflower Seeds

Step 1 – Choose Container

Seed starting containers should be clean and have drainage holes. For several container options, you can read my blog post Supplies Needed for Seed Starting. 

I use cell trays and plastic pots for my seed containers.

For more information regarding how to clean your used containers can be found on my post Seed Starting 101 – Growing a Cut Flower Garden Series.

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Step 2 – Fill Containers with Soil

Use a quality seed starter potting mix when sowing your strawflower seeds. Before adding it to the container, the soil should be moistened until it’s thoroughly damp but not soaking wet.

Fill the container to the top with soil. As you go, tap firmly against the table or shelf to make sure the soil settles and to prevent air pockets in the containers.

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BENEFITS TO USING A SEED STARTING MIX

• Helps the seeds to germinate quickly
• Holds the moisture in the container
• Allows the roots to penetrate down into the garden soil quickly

You can make the mix go even further by filling the bottom half of the container with regular potting soil and then filling the rest of it with the seed starting mix, where the seeds are going to be placed.

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Step 3 – Label or Tag

Label the container with the name of the variety of plants and the date planted.

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Step 4 – Sow the Seeds

Sow 2 seeds per container or cell by creating a 1-half-inch hole into the soil, in 2 opposite corners. You can use a pencil, dibbler, or even your finger to make a hole.

Strawflower seeds require light to germinate. Press seeds lightly into the soil, but don’t cover them. Seedlings should begin to appear in seven to 10 days.

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Step 5 – Bottom Water

After sowing the flower seeds, set the container in a drainage tray with an inch of water in the bottom, removing once the soil surface is evenly moist. It’s important not to let the container sit in the water for more than an hour.

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Step 6 –Place on a Heat Mat and Cover

Place the container on a heated mat or in a warm corner in your house, and cover it with a clear plastic dome. This will help speed up the seed-starting germination process.

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Step 7 – Pick the Right Location

Keep the strawflower seeds in a light and bright space such as a greenhouse or sunroom. If you don’t have that option, keep the seedlings under a grow light that is on for 16 hours a day.

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Step 8 – Continue Watering

Continue to check the soil moistness every 2-3 days. Bottom water again as needed.

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Once the Strawflower Seeds Have Germinated

Step 1 – Remove Heat Mat and Uncover the Container

Check the container daily. Once the seeds have germinated and the sprouts are visible, remove the clear dome lid and remove the seedlings from the heated mat.

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Step 2 – Continue to Water When Needed

Check the strawflower seedlings on a daily basis to make sure that the soil doesn’t dry out.

The very first leaves that appear on the plant are called cotyledons. Be sure to bottom water your seedlings until you see the first real leaves that appear after the cotyledons.

Once those second sets of leaves appear, water with a gentle spray from a watering can or hose when needed, usually every 1-2 days.

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Step 3 – Transplant if Needed

If your seedlings start to outgrow their containers before they’re ready to be planted outdoors, you’ll need to transplant them into a larger container while still growing inside. It’s important to give the roots more room to grow.

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Step 4 – Hardening Off the Strawflower Seeds

After all danger of frost has passed, you can begin “hardening off” your plants before transplanting them into the garden. 

Don’t skip this process! Your plants will go into shock by the sudden change in temperature.

Set the containers in a sheltered spot outdoors, increasing the amount of time they spend outside each day, over the course of a week or two. I usually start with 2-3 hours the first day.

To see more on hardening off your plants, click HERE.

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Preparing the Garden Beds

Strawflowers do well in most soils as long as it is well-draining.

Add mulch to the bed before planting to help retain soil moisture and even soil temperatures.

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Transplanting Strawflower Seedlings into the Garden

Once the strawflower plants are acclimated to the extreme temperatures, transplant the seed starts to the garden once the threat of frost has passed.

Space your plants out every 12-inches to make sure your plants have enough room to grow with plenty of airflow.

Strawflowers thrive in full sun which helps to prevent weak stems. They can tolerate part shade but they won’t bloom as well.

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Caring for Strawflowers

Water

These flowers are drought-tolerant but don’t let them dry out in an extended period of drought.

Create a plan to make sure your strawflowers will be watered regularly in the garden. I set up soaker hoses in the raised beds as soon as they’ve been transplanted to their new home in the garden.

Prolonging Strawflower Blooms in the Garden

Strawflowers don’t need to be pruned regularly. However, deadheading the plant will keep the flowers blooming.

Support Plants Early

Once in the ground, strawflowers will grow quickly, so be sure to stake them early, while they are still young.

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Harvesting

Cut strawflowers when 3-4 sets of bracts (petals) are open but before they are pollinated. If you give the stem a wiggle and it remains upright, it is ready to harvest.

Cut the stem leaving 4-5 side shoots below. Strip leaves on the stem before placing them in water. 

Fresh flowers will last a week in the vase. Add flower preservatives to the water.

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Harvesting Strawflowers for Drying

Harvest the strawflowers when only 2-3 bracts have unfurled and have no pollen visible, To dry, remove the foliage and hang upside down in a warm, dark place until firm.

The bracts will continue to open as they dry. You can also use a fan to make the drying process faster.

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Saving Seeds From Strawflowers to Sow Next Year

To save seeds for next year’s cutting garden, leave the largest and best-looking blooms on the plant at the end of the season. 

The center of the bloom elongates and forms dandelion-like parachutes for each seed as it dries. When lifting the parachutes up, the small dark seeds should be at the base of the flower.

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Do you grow strawflowers or plan to add them to your garden this coming season? If so, what are your favorite varieties?

You can see all the flower seeds, including strawflowers I am growing this year HERE, as well as last year HERE.

I hope these tips on growing strawflowers from seed indoors have helped. I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Until next time,

Happy Gardening!

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