Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G.Don

Éternelle jaune (fr), Hélichryse d'Italie (fr), Immortelle d'Italie (fr)

Species

Angiosperms > Asterales > Asteraceae > Helichrysum

Characteristics

A plant which keeps growing from year to year. It grows to 45 cm high. It can spread 50 cm wide. The leaves are silver-grey in colour. They are narrow and have a few hairs. The leaves are 30 mm long. The flowers are small and white to yellow. They occur in heads in small clusters. These are 15-80 mm across. The involucre of the bracts is dull yellow and oblong.
Life form perennial
Growth form shrub
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention evergreen
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination entomogamy
Spread barochory
Mature width (meter) 0.75 - 1.0
Mature height (meter) 0.6
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

It is a warm temperate plant. It does well on a sandy soil. It needs a sunny soil. It can stand coastal exposure. In Hobart Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 8-10.
More
Arid hills, rocks and cliffs
Light 6-9
Soil humidity 1-6
Soil texture 4-6
Soil acidity 4-7
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 8-9

Usage

The leaves have a curry flavour. They are finely chopped and added to scrambled eggs. They are used to season meat, fish and potatoes. Flower heads are used for tea. An essential oil extract is used to enhance fruit flavours in ice cream, candies and soft drinks.
Uses essential oil food material medicinal tea
Edible flowers fruits leaves
Therapeutic use -
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed. The temperature needs to be at least 13-16°C. It can be grown by basal cuttings. The plant can be pruned back.
Mode cuttings seedlings
Germination duration (days) 7 - 10
Germination temperacture (C°) 19 - 22
Germination luminosity light
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -9
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Habit

Helichrysum italicum habit picture by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Helichrysum italicum habit picture by Claudio Malpede (cc-by-sa)
Helichrysum italicum habit picture by Plantae Lucorum (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Helichrysum italicum leaf picture by Caraffa Vittorio (cc-by-sa)
Helichrysum italicum leaf picture by Philippe FOURTIER (cc-by-sa)
Helichrysum italicum leaf picture by Pierre Arnoud (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Helichrysum italicum flower picture by Skhairi Hayat (cc-by-sa)
Helichrysum italicum flower picture by G. Tisserand (cc-by-sa)
Helichrysum italicum flower picture by Françoise Bert (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Helichrysum italicum fruit picture by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Helichrysum italicum fruit picture by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Helichrysum italicum fruit picture by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Distribution

Helichrysum italicum world distribution map, present in France

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:212898-1
WFO ID wfo-0000077691
COL ID 3K6TW
BDTFX ID 31378
INPN ID 101080
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR) Link

Synonyms

Helichrysum italicum var. italicum Helichrysum italicum var. numidicum Helichrysum angustifolium var. numidicum Helichrysum stoechas subsp. numidicum Helichrysum rupestre subsp. glutinosum Gnaphalium glutinosum var. glutinosum Helichrysum italicum

Lower taxons

Helichrysum italicum subsp. italicum Helichrysum italicum subsp. microphyllum Helichrysum italicum subsp. serotinum Helichrysum italicum subsp. ericoideum Helichrysum italicum subsp. pseudolitoreum Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii Helichrysum italicum subsp. siculum Helichrysum italicum subsp. tyrrhenicum