About Helichrysum retortum (L.) Willd.
Helichrysum retortum (L.) Willd. is a straggling, silvery shrublet that grows up to 50 cm (20 in) tall, though its stems can be longer than this height. Its overlapping leaves grow pressed close to the stem; the leaves are oblong, and the upper leaves are folded and hooked. All leaves are covered in tissue paper-like hairs, which gives them their characteristic silvery colour. This species produces papery flowers between August and December. Its terminal, disc-shaped flower heads are nested among leaves, and surrounded by glossy white bracts that are brown or pink on the outside. Each flower head has a diameter of about 4 cm (1.6 in). The ray florets are shiny white, often tinged with brown and pink, while the disc florets are yellow. In terms of distribution and habitat, Helichrysum retortum always grows near the sea. It occurs on sand cliffs, sand dunes, sandy slopes, and sandy flats along the southwest coast of South Africa, ranging from Blouberg north of Table Bay to Stillbaai. It sometimes grows in the gaps between neighbouring bushes.
