Billy Buttons

$5.99

Pycnosorus Globosus

  • Seed Count 100
  • Australian Wildflower
  • Perennial
  • Height 60 cm

In stock

Description

Billy Buttons has an understated elegance with its silvery-green, grass-like foliage and slender stems crowned by golden-yellow flower heads. From spring through summer, the blooms persist, undeterred by heat or dry spells, their vibrant hue deepening to a rich gold as they mature. In a garden setting, they serve as versatile focal points, equally at home in rockeries, meadow plantings, or as striking contrasts in cottage-style borders.

Native to New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia, Billy Buttons thrive in environments that challenge less hardy plants. Shaped by millennia of arid summers, they are extremely drought tolerant and while they favours well-drained soils, they can handle sandy coastal flats to clay-loam foothills. This makes them a practical choice for water-wise gardens, revegetation projects, or areas where other plants might falter. Requiring minimal intervention once established, they are perfect for time poor gardeners.

The flowers are a lifeline for native bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects who flock to its nectar-rich blooms, drawn by the subtle fragrance and the promise of sustenance.
The transition from garden to vase is seamless with Billy Buttons. Their long-lasting flowers and sturdy stems make them ideal for cut arrangements, retaining their form and colour for weeks when dried. Whether paired with other natives like kangaroo paw or standing alone in a rustic bouquet, they bring the colours of the Australian bush indoors.

Optimal Sowing Times 

 Cool climates:

  • Spring to early autumn. 

 Temperate/Subtropical:

  • Year round, avoiding extreme heat or frost. 

 Arid regions:

  • Autumn or spring. 

Germination temperature:

  • 21–24°C, taking 14–21 days. 

Seed Preparation & Soil Requirements 

No pretreatment:

  • Seeds do not require soaking or stratification. 

Soil type:

  • Well draining sandy loam, loam, or clay loam.
  • Avoid acidic soils (neutral pH preferred). 

 Soil preparation:

  • Enrich with compost or aged manure.
  • Weed thoroughly and loosen soil to improve drainage. 

Sowing Methods 

Direct Sowing 

Depth:

  • 1 – 3 mm, spaced 40 cm apart. 

Watering:

  • Keep soil moist but not waterlogged.
  • Protect seedlings from pests and weather. 

Raise Seedlings 

  • Containers: Use seed trays with a quality seed raising mix.
  • Lightly cover seeds. 

Transplanting:

  • Harden off seedlings over 5–7 days before planting.
  • Space 30–40 cm apart to avoid root disturbance. 

Growing Conditions 

Sunlight:

  • Full sun (6 hours daily) to light shade for optimal flowering. 

Watering:

  • Drought tolerant once established.
  • Water when top 5 cm of soil is dry. 

Fertiliser:

  • Use a low phosphorus, slow release fertiliser in spring/summer.
  • Avoid overfeeding. 

Mulching:

  • Gravel or bark mulch helps regulate temperature and suppress weeds. 

Maintenance & Troubleshooting 

Pruning:

  • Deadhead spent flowers to encourage blooms.
  • Cut back foliage in late autumn if plants die back in cold climates. 

Pests/Diseases: 

  • Slugs/Snails: Remove manually or use beer traps. 
  • Spider mites: Treat with neem oil. 

 Frost tolerance:

  • Hardy to 6°C; frost prone areas may require winter mulching. 

Flowering & Harvesting 

First blooms:

  • 90 – 120 days after sowing. 

Harvesting:

Cut stems when flowers are fully open.

For dried arrangements, hang upside down in a dark, dry place. 

Landscaping & Ecological Benefits 

Uses:

  • Ideal for cottage gardens, borders, rockeries, or coastal landscapes. 

Wildlife:

  • Attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. 

Pro Tip:

  • Billy Buttons thrive in neglected soils but dislike waterlogging.
  • Pair with other drought tolerant natives like Kangaroo Paw for a low maintenance garden. 

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Postage Charge

Orders under $30 attract a $4.50 shipping charge. Orders $30 and above have free shipping.

Order Times

Seed orders are normally dispatched within three business days. You will receive an email when seeds are mailed out.

Postage Days

Seeds are mailed out Monday to Friday at 1pm. Except for the Friday of long weekends.

Postage Times

WA 2-3 Days: SA,NT 3-5 Days: NSW, ACT, QLD, VIC: 5-7 Days

Carrier

We use Australia Post Letter Postage for the majority of orders

Not only are our seeds packed in recycled paper envelopes, we keep the theme going when we post out website orders. To protect your seeds from moisture and the letter box munchers (snails), we use a very special plastic free material made from plants. They are then put into recycled mailing envelopes. Green all the way 💚🌿