Fauna
Flower

Needle Everlasting

Helichrysum teretifolium

Also known as Needle-leaf Everlasting

Needle everlasting forms low, spreading mats or small shrubs across coastal dunes and rocky sandstone slopes of South Africa's Cape Floristic Region. Its slender, needle-like leaves feature tightly recurved margins designed to minimize moisture loss in windy, sun-baked fynbos habitats. Dense clusters of small flower heads with dry, papery white involucral bracts bloom from spring through summer, retaining their shape and color long after drying.

FynbosDrought-TolerantWildflower
Needle Everlasting reference1 / 7
(c) Nicola van Berkel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Nicola van Berkel · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
  • Cape Grysbok
  • Grasshoppers
  • Tortoises
ThreatsInvasive alien vegetation, coastal urban development, and altered fire regimes
HabitatsCoastal sands, sandstone slopes, and lowland fynbos
Life span10–20 years
Classification
  1. OrderAsterales
  2. FamilyAsteraceae
  3. GenusHelichrysum
  4. SpeciesHelichrysum teretifolium
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Observation: Look for its papery flower heads on exposed coastal dunes and sandy flats.
  • Fragrance: Lightly brush the foliage with your fingertips to release a mild herbal scent.
  • Conservation: Stay on designated coastal paths to protect fragile dune ecosystems from erosion.
Related species
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