Ilparpa Claypans FloraAnnual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii) Apple Bush (Pterocaulon sphacelatum) Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) Button grass (Dactyloctenium radulans) Centipeda crateriformis Cyperus sp Goatshead Burr (Sclerolaena bicornis) Golden Everlasting (Xerochrysum bracteatum) Invisible Plant (Siemssenia capillaris) Longtails (Ptilotus polystachyus) Nardoo (Marsilea drummondii) Pink Everlasting (Schoenia cassiniana) Polycarpaea brevifolia Red Pussytail (Ptilotus polystachyus) Schenkia australis Small-Leaf Swainson-Pea (Swainsona microphylla) Tiny Purslane (Calandrinia pumila) Tiny Purslane (White form) Variable Daisy (Brachyscome ciliaris) Wahlenbergia capillaris Yellow Billybutton (Calocephalus platycephalus)

The Golden Everlasting (Xerochrysum bracteatum), also known as Strawflower, is one of the so called ‘paper daisies’, and are recognised by their erect flower heads composed of a centre of very small yellow flowers forming a cluster surrounded by stiff yellow bracts, that give an appearance of petals. These bracts can also be tinged a reddish brown.

Golden Everlasting (Xerochrysum bracteatum), Ilparpa Claypans, Alice Springs NT
Golden Everlasting (Xerochrysum bracteatum), Ilparpa Claypans, Alice Springs NT

A flowering plant in the family Asteraceae they are native to Australia. They were formerly known as Helichrysum bracteatum, before being transferred to the genus Xerochrysum.

Golden Everlasting (Xerochrysum bracteatum), Ilparpa Claypans, Alice Springs NT
Golden Everlasting (Xerochrysum bracteatum), Ilparpa Claypans, Alice Springs NT

Found growing across a variety of habitats from sub-alpine areas, down to rainforest margins and arid desert regions, the Golden Everlasting are a food source for a variety of larvae of the lepidopterans (butterflies and moths), as well as the adult butterflies, hoverflies, beetles, grasshoppers and native bees (who are often seen on the flower heads).

Golden Everlasting (Xerochrysum bracteatum), Ilparpa Claypans, Alice Springs NT
Golden Everlasting (Xerochrysum bracteatum), Ilparpa Claypans, Alice Springs NT

A popular flowering plant, it has been intensive bred, producing a range of colourful cultivars for gardens and the floral industry.


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade: Tracheophytes
  • Clade: Angiosperms
  • Clade: Eudicots
  • Clade: Asterids
  • Order: Asterales
  • Family: Asteraceae
  • Genus: Xerochrysum
  • Species: Xerochrysum bracteatum

Ilparpa Claypans FloraAnnual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii) Apple Bush (Pterocaulon sphacelatum) Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) Button grass (Dactyloctenium radulans) Centipeda crateriformis Cyperus sp Goatshead Burr (Sclerolaena bicornis) Golden Everlasting (Xerochrysum bracteatum) Invisible Plant (Siemssenia capillaris) Longtails (Ptilotus polystachyus) Nardoo (Marsilea drummondii) Pink Everlasting (Schoenia cassiniana) Polycarpaea brevifolia Red Pussytail (Ptilotus polystachyus) Schenkia australis Small-Leaf Swainson-Pea (Swainsona microphylla) Tiny Purslane (Calandrinia pumila) Tiny Purslane (White form) Variable Daisy (Brachyscome ciliaris) Wahlenbergia capillaris Yellow Billybutton (Calocephalus platycephalus)

Ilparpa ClaypansIlparpa Claypans Fauna Ilparpa Claypans Flora Ilparpa Claypans Landscape

Northern TerritoryCentral Australia Aileron Alice Springs Binns Track Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve Ernest Giles Road Finke Gorge National Park Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve Hermannsburg Historic Precinct Ilparpa Claypans Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve MacDonnell Ranges Mount Connor Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary Owen Springs Reserve Red Centre Way Drive Standley Chasm Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Watarrka National Park & Kings Canyon Wurre / Rainbow Valley