About Billy Button
Craspedia globosa, also known as Billy button, Billy balls, or drumstick, boasts striking one-inch globes in a brilliant shade of yellow. Native to New Zealand, Australia, and Tasmania, it is classified as a half-hardy annual in the United States. These flowers typically grace your garden with their presence throughout the summer.
Billy buttons can reach up to 24 inches in height. They are hardy perennials in USDA Zones 8 through 10 and suitable to grow as annuals in USDA Zones 3 to 7. They are known to be deer-resistant and display good tolerance to drought conditions.
When to Plant Billy Button Seeds
Start your seeds indoors approximately four to six weeks before the expected last frost. Alternatively, craspedia seeds can be sown directly outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
Typically, germination takes around 14 to 21 days. Keep the planting medium moist during this period.
Where to Plant Billy Button Seeds
Craspedia globosa plants thrive in full sun and well-drained, non acidic, gritty soil. These flowers are adaptable to poor soil conditions and drought. Billy buttons require at least six hours of direct sunlight in order to thrive and bloom. Any less and the plant will not be able to generate blooms.
How to Plant Billy Button Seeds
Prepare a weed-free seed bed with loose, well-drained soil. Sow the flower seeds on the surface of your chosen growing medium and lightly cover them with a thin layer of peat moss or sand. These flower seeds require light for successful germination. Maintain moisture around the flower seeds until germination occurs.
Once your craspedia seedlings have at least two sets of true leaves, they are ready for transplanting. If you are planting more than one seedling, you should keep at least 10 inches in all directions between the holes.
How to Care for Billy Button
Growing craspedia globosa provides a delightful addition to your garden, attracting bees and butterflies with its unique beauty. Water your plants only when the top layer of soil is dry.
Craspedia is not a heavy feeder, but you can apply a slow-release fertilizer during the growing season, or add compost or aged manure for healthy growth and to suppress weeds. Craspedia is a tough plant that resists most pests and diseases, but watch out for spider mites, snails, and slugs.
A fun craft to do with craspedia is to dry the stems upside down (to keep the stems straight). Once dried, blooms can be spray-painted different colors and then used in a variety of craft projects or arranged in a geometric display.