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Helichrysum italicum

curry plant

© RHS 2003
RHS Plant Shop from £5.99 Sold by 24 nurseries

  • Other common names curry plant

  • Family Asteraceae

  • Genus Helichrysum can be annuals, herbaceous or evergreen perennials or shrubs, usually with grey-hairy foliage and papery everlasting flower-heads

  • Details H. italicum is a small bushy evergreen sub-shrub with linear, silvery-grey, curry-scented leaves, and small yellow flowerheads in domed clusters

  • Plant range Mediterranean

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Bushy

  • Fragrance Leaf

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H4

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Aspect South-facing or East-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureWell-drained

  • SoilChalk, Loam

  • pHAlkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.5-1 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in a poor to moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Protect from winter wet and cold dry winds

Propagation Propagate by rooting semi-hardwood cuttings of shrubby species in summer and overwinter in frost-free conditions

Suggested planting locations and garden types Flower borders and beds City & Courtyard Gardens Coastal Cottage & Informal Garden Gravel Garden Mediterranean Climate Plants Prairie Planting

How to care

Pruning Pruning group 10 in spring

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases May be subject to powdery mildews

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Helichrysum italicum

curry plant

Buy from £5.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £5.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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