Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd
Craspedia Drumstick
Craspedia Drumstick
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Craspedia globosa 'Drumstick' Seeds
If you want to add a touch of modern art to your borders, Craspedia (Billy Buttons) is the answer. This unique Australian native produces a rosette of silver-green foliage, from which shoot up tall, stiff, unbranched stems topped with perfectly spherical, flower heads.
The flowers are a vibrant, sunshine yellow that demands attention. They are tough, tactile, and incredibly long-lasting. Whether used fresh in a funky, modern bouquet or dried for winter arrangements, they add a geometric "pop" that no other flower can mimic. They are the definition of "happy" plants.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Craspedia is technically a Tender Perennial, but in the UK it is grown as a Half-Hardy Annual.
It needs a long, warm growing season to flower well, so it must be started indoors early.
The "Wire" Stem: The stems are incredibly strong and rigid (hence the name Drumstick). This makes them one of the easiest flowers to arrange because they don't flop, droop, or bend in the vase.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
These plants need heat to get started. Don't rush them into cold soil!
Germination:
Sow indoors from February to April. Surface sow onto moist compost and cover with a very fine sprinkling of vermiculite (they need light). Keep humid and warm (20-25°C). Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They demand full sun. They tolerate dry, sandy, or stony soil well (they are Australian, after all!). They are perfect for gravel gardens or terracotta pots.
Care While Growing:
They are low maintenance. Keep them weed-free, as the basal rosette of leaves sits low to the ground. Harvest the stems when the yellow balls are fully formed and hard to the touch.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Pycnosorus globosus (syn. Craspedia) |
| Common Name | Billy Buttons / Drumsticks |
| Hardiness | H2/H3 (Half-Hardy - Protect from frost) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 60cm - 80cm |
| Spread | ↔️ 30cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 25cm apart |
| Great for | 🍂 Drying ✂️ Cut Flowers 🏜️ Gravel Gardens 🏺 Modern Vases |
| Seed Count | Approx. 200 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
The rigid, yellow spheres of Craspedia look amazing with contrasting shapes and colours:
- 🔵 Statice 'Mixed' (Sea Lavender): The Blue Contrast. The deep violet-blue varieties of Statice look incredible next to the bright yellow of the Billy Buttons. Both dry perfectly, making this a "forever bouquet" combination.
- 🌾 Dried Grasses (e.g. Panicum): The Softener. Mixing the hard, architectural lines of Craspedia with soft, misty grasses creates a balanced, modern display that doesn't look too stiff.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow indoors in early spring. Plant out in June. Flowers late summer to autumn.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Indoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Flowers/Harvest | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ |
⚠️ Drying Tip
Craspedia dries almost exactly as it looks when fresh. Hang bunches upside down in a dark, dry place until the stems are rigid. The yellow colour fades very little, lasting for years!
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
This is a top-quality cut flower. The strong, straight stems are perfect for buttonholes and bouquets, making it a favourite of professional wedding florists.
