‘Flambe Yellow’ strawflower combines colors of the year
Pantone has selected Ultimate Gray and Illuminating Yellow as its colors of the year for 2021. The two colors come together on one of the toughest and prettiest plants of all time, ‘Flambé Yellow’ chrysocephalum.
‘Flambé Yellow’ has silver gray foliage and yellow buttonlike flowers that are produced nonstop all growing season. It has won 85 awards in places as varied as Florida, Georgia, Texas, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York. Not many plants can match this trophy case.
Known commonly as strawflower and botanically as Chrysocephalum apiculatum, this flower is from Tasmania and Australia. You might wonder what’s so special about this plant with a name that is difficult to pronounce. The answer is that it is a continuous bloomer and is drought-tolerant and frost-tolerant to around 30 degrees.
In our Mississippi State University Trials, its small orange or yellow buds flowered from May right up until hard freezes in November or December. Most of us will enjoy it as an annual, and one that is of exceptional value.
‘Flambé Yellow’ has silver-gray leaves and ‘Flambé Orange’ has olive green foliage. The plants reach about 8-15 inches tall and their trailing habit means they are wonderful in mixed containers. Combine the hot yellow with cool colors like ‘Whirlwind Blue’ or this year’s new ‘Whirlwind Starlight’ scaevola, which also happen to be from Australia.
‘Artist Blue’ ageratum creates a dazzling complementary partnership
with ‘Flambe Yellow.’ For a taller, blue-flowered
companion, try salvias like ‘Rockin’ Blue Suede Shoes,’ ‘Rockin’ Playin’ the Blues’ and the trendy ‘Unplugged So Blue.’
Another stunning partner would be ‘Truffula Pink’ gomphrena, the hottest pollinator plant in the country. It produces iridescent, hot pink balls that look like small fireworks. Its toughness and longevity will match perfectly with ‘Flambe Yellow.’
Do pay attention and avoid overwatering. Make sure ‘Flambe’ has good drainage, sun and fertile soil. If you are plagued with tight, compacted clay, then loosen the soil with 3 or 4 inches of organic matter or plant it in raised beds.
Although drought-tolerant and rugged, ‘Flambe’ will appreciate a layer of mulch to conserve moisture and deter weeds. No deadheading required; spent flowers are quickly covered by new growth and more blossoms.