Helichrysum amorginum 'Red Jewel'

Cultivar of a perennial sub-shrub from the Asteraceae family, originating like 'Ruby Cluster' from the selection of Helichrysum amorginum, a species endemic to the Greek Cyclades. The two cultivars are close relatives but are distinctly different upon observation: 'Red Jewel' has a noticeably more slender habit and more upright stems, bearing narrow, linear foliage of a shiny silver-gray, very dense, giving the plant a fine and luminous silhouette.

The inflorescences consist of small globular capitula, grouped in loose and open corymbs at the top of the stems. Their hue is a coral pink-red to raspberry red, less dark and less saturated than a crimson red, with characteristic pearly reflections linked to the scaly texture of the bracts. The buds, tight and shiny, evoke tiny pearls, as suggested by the cultivar's name. When fully open, the central yellow disc appears discreetly. Blooming extends, in its natural habitat, from June to August; in cultivation, from June to September.

Like all representatives of this species, 'Red Jewel' requires full sun, impeccable drainage, and a poor to moderately rich soil. It does not tolerate prolonged moisture in winter and its hardiness is limited to regions with mild winters. It naturally pairs with other plants with silver foliage or bright blooms, in dry rock gardens, gravel borders, or in containers exposed to the sun.