Flower Library
Paper Daisy
Rhodanthe · Asteraceae
Rhodanthe is the more delicate sister of the strawflower: small pink or white flower stars whose bracts feel dry and rustling like tissue paper, hence the name paper daisy. What looks like a fragile meadow flower is in truth one of the longest-lived blooms of all. It is a cornerstone of the dried-flower trend, and tied fresh it lends summer bouquets a fine vintage note.
- Season
- June – July – August – September
- Vase life
- 10–14 days
- Latin name
- Rhodanthe
- Colors
- Pink, Pale pink, White, Silvery shimmering buds
The trade mainly carries Rhodanthe chlorocephala subspecies rosea, formerly known as Helipterum or Acroclinium, with pink or white blooms around a yellow centre. Strictly speaking, the papery part is not petals but dry, membranous bracts surrounding the actual flower head, exactly as in the larger strawflower.
This construction is its trump card: the blooms look practically the same fresh and dried. Hang a rhodanthe bouquet upside down and two weeks later you have a dried arrangement that holds colour and shape for years, with no preserving and no dyeing.
In floral work we set the fine stems into natural summer bouquets, where they look painted in among lavender and grasses, and of course into anything destined for drying: wreaths, posies, table decoration. With statice and strawflowers it forms the classic dried-flower trio.
A charming quirk: the blooms respond to moisture and light, closing in the evening and in rainy weather, a legacy of their Australian homeland. Dried, however, they stay permanently open if harvested while open.
When buying we look for stems whose blooms are just opening, with firm, silvery shimmering buds coming on behind. Fully spent heads with visible seed set shed and fall apart when dried, the most common mistake in home drying.
Is Paper Daisy toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Mildly irritating
- Cats
- Mildly irritating
- Dogs
- Mildly irritating
No toxins documented, but little studied toxicologically. Dry flower parts can cause mechanical irritation if swallowed; to be safe, keep out of reach of pets and small children.
Typical symptoms: If larger amounts are eaten, stomach upset and gagging from dry plant parts are possible.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Give the stems a fresh cut and place them in a little clean water.
- 02Remove foliage below the waterline.
- 03Place bright and airy; humidity makes the blooms close.
- 04Change the water every two to three days, as the stems like it clean.
- 05To dry, hang small bunches upside down in an airy, shaded spot.
- 06Protect dried blooms from direct sun and the colour will last for years.
Frequently asked
- How long does rhodanthe last in the vase?
- Fresh, around ten to fourteen days, noticeably longer than most summer flowers. And that is not the end: dried, the paper daisy keeps its shape and colour for years.
- Is the paper daisy toxic to cats or dogs?
- No toxins are documented for rhodanthe, but the species is little studied toxicologically. We recommend keeping bouquets out of reach of pets as usual, also because dry flower parts can cause mechanical irritation if swallowed.
- What is the best way to dry rhodanthe?
- Harvest the stems just as the blooms open, strip the leaves, hang them upside down in small bunches in an airy, dark place and wait two weeks. Darkness preserves the colour and good air circulation prevents mould.
- What is the difference between rhodanthe and strawflower?
- Both are Australian composites with papery bracts. The strawflower (helichrysum) is larger, sturdier in build and comes in warm yellows, oranges and reds, while rhodanthe stays smaller, more delicate and limited to pink and white. In dried arrangements the two complement each other perfectly.