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Native
to Australia. Strawflowers were used by the Egyptians
to decorate the statues of their gods. Greeks used strawflowers
mixed with honey to soothe burns. In the Victorian era
strawflowers were used to make fireplace screens. They
were also used instead of houseplants to decorate their
living rooms. |

Start
seed indoors in March. Plant strawflowers outdoors after
all danger of frost is past. |

Plant in full
sun. Space plants 12 inches apart. |

Harvest
the flowers with six to twelve inches of stem for drying
before their yellow centers are visible. Take off all
the leaves. Wrap the stems with a rubberband. Hang the
flowers upside down in a dry, airy, shaded place. They
will take two to three weeks to dry. Strawflowers will
grow three feet tall. Flowers come in red, yellow, orange,
pink, white or purple colors. |
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