Plant of September the Month 2021

Distribution Information Name: helianthi Labill. Endemic to Australia. Natural range extends from central Striking flowers and unique texture make this one of the Common Name: Flannel Flower and south-eastern Queensland to the Nerriga-Ulladulla most recognised and popular species on the east coast of Language Name: TALARA’TINGI (Dharawal) district of southern NSW and to Narrabri in western NSW. Australia. It has been a popular motif in Australian art and design since the nineteenth century. Flannel flowers feature Native Habitat Family: in the carvings on our heritage gates, the Woolloomooloo Grows on shallow sandy soils, often in exposed situations in Genus: from Greek meaning ‘with rays’, and Palace Gates. They also feature in the work of author a wide range of environments including coastal heath, scrub and illustrator, May Gibbs and her Flannel Flower Bush refers to the shape of and open eucalypt forest. Regeneration from seed after fire Babies have delighted generations of children. around the flowers means they are often abundant in landscapes following fire. Their popularity means they are often planted in gardens. Species epithet: like the Sunflower genus, Description Improved forms and , such as Federation Star and Erect annual or perennial herb, variable in size between Starbright, bred or selected for compact size, abundant 30 and 120 cm high. The whole is covered in soft flowering and resilience have proven more successful white hairs (indumentum) giving it a woolly texture and its garden . Federation Star was bred at the Australian common name, Flannel Flower. Leaves are grey-green in Botanic Garden Mt Annan and was the floral emblem for the colour, biternately divided and altenately arranged. Centenary of Federation celebrations in NSW. Starbright is a Flowers compact well suited to growing in pots. What look like flowers are in fact inflorescences made up is one of twenty speces in the genus, of many tiny flowers arranged in umbels. Similar to daisies including the rarely seen, Pink Flannel Flower, Actinotus in appearance and structure but not closely related. The forsythii. and the only species that occurs outside Australia, Flannel Flower is actually in the carrot family, Apiaceae. Actinotus novae-zelandiae from New Zealand. Flowering can occur throughout the year but is mainly in September and October. Location in Garden Wurrungwuri Sculpture and Solander Garden . Use our new Garden Explorer plant finder at: https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/Visit/Garden-Explorer

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