---
title: "Craspedia (billy buttons): vase life, season, meaning & care | Floreboard flower guide"
url: https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/craspedia/
language: en
last_reviewed: 2026-10-31
publisher: Floreboard
---

# Craspedia (billy buttons): vase life, season, meaning and care for florists

  ZANDER 5D
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  ∞ 10–14 days
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Craspedia (billy buttons) (Pycnosorus globosus, family Asteraceae) usually lasts 10–14 days in a vase. In season: Year-round. Fragrance: none. Typical role in a design: filler flower.

- **Botanical name:** Pycnosorus globosus

- **Family:** Asteraceae

- **Accepted name:** Pycnosorus globosus Benth. [POWO](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:240639-1) · [GBIF](https://www.gbif.org/species/3150230) · [Catalogue of Life](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/4QMYP)

- **Role in a design:** Filler flower

- **Vase life:** 10–14 days

- **In season:** Year-round

- **Fragrance:** None

- **Colours:** [yellow](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flowers-by-color/yellow/)

- **Type:** Cut flower

- **Pets:** Not flagged as toxic in our knowledge base — check the ASPCA list for the exact species

## Cut flower commercial monograph

    🌿 Taxonomy & Origin

- **Official name:** Craspedia (billy buttons)

- **Botanical name:** Pycnosorus globosus

- **Family:** Asteraceae

- **Aliases:** billybuttons

- **Native origin:** Worldwide; major commercial cut stems native to the Americas and Mediterranean

    🌸 Morphology & Visuals

- **Growth habit:** Herbaceous perennial or biennial with sturdy, upright flowering stems.

- **Stem length:** 50–70 cm

- **Natural colours:** Yellow

    ⏳ Phenology & Harvest

- **Natural bloom:** Natural flowering in spring and summer

- **Commercial supply:** Available year-round via commercial greenhouse production

- **Harvest stage:** Harvest when buds show true colour and outer petals loosen (Stage 2–3).

    ✂️ Postharvest & Floristry

- **Vase life:** 10–14 days

- **Cold storage:** Cold storage suitable (2–5°C constant temperature, high humidity).

- **Special care:** Needs almost no care and dries perfectly in the vase. Keep the water shallow and clean — the stems rot if they sit deep.

- **Application:** Serves primarily as Filler flower in modern floristry, ideal for table arrangements and event designs.

- **Market notes:** Needs almost no care and dries perfectly in the vase. Keep the water shallow and clean — the stems rot if they sit deep.

For florists

## Try Craspedia (billy buttons) in a client design

We fill in the brief from this page. No stock yet? Load the sample flowers — Craspedia (billy buttons) included — and see a recipe, quote and preview image in about a minute. New shops get 30 free credits.

Try it as a design — free

## Care and conditioning

- Needs almost no care and dries perfectly in the vase. Keep the water shallow and clean — the stems rot if they sit deep.
- Craspedia (billy buttons) dries well: hang small bunches upside down in a dark, airy place for two to three weeks.

## Where it fits

| Use |   | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hospital visits and condolences | ✓ | Not strongly scented and no heavy pollen. Check that the ward accepts fresh flowers. |
| Weddings | ✓ | No pollen staining, and it lasts long enough to make up a day ahead. |
| Dining tables and restaurants | ✓ | Little or no scent, so it will not compete with the meal. |
| Homes with cats or dogs | ✓ | Not flagged as toxic in our knowledge base; still check the ASPCA list for the exact species. |
| Making ahead and next-day delivery | ✓ | Long-lasting (about 10–14 days) — good for orders prepared ahead and weekly contract flowers. |

## Pairs well with

These are available at the same time as craspedia (billy buttons) and have a similar vase life (foliage lasts at least as long), so the arrangement ages evenly:

| Flower | Role | Vase life |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Carnation](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/carnation/) | Focal flower | 10–14 days |
| [Bird of paradise](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/strelitzia/) | Focal flower | 10–14 days |
| [Orchids (cut)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/orchid/) | Focal flower | 10–21 days |
| [Eucalyptus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/eucalyptus/) | Foliage | 10–14 days |
| [Monstera leaf](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/monstera/) | Foliage | 10–14 days |
| [Asparagus fern](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/asparagus/) | Foliage | 10–14 days |

## Substitutes

When craspedia (billy buttons) is unavailable, out of season or priced up before a holiday, these fill the same role at the same time of year:

| Flower | Vase life | In season | Fragrance | Pets |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Statice](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/statice/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | — |
| [Alstroemeria](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/alstroemeria/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| [Solidago (goldenrod)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/solidago/) | 7–10 days | Summer, Autumn | None | — |
| [Baby's breath](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/gypsophila/) | 7–10 days | Year-round | Light | — |

## FAQ

### How long does craspedia (billy buttons) last in a vase?

Usually 10–14 days, depending on variety, origin and conditioning.

### When is craspedia (billy buttons) in season?

It is available year-round.

### How do you keep craspedia (billy buttons) fresh?

Needs almost no care and dries perfectly in the vase. Keep the water shallow and clean — the stems rot if they sit deep.

### What can I use instead of craspedia (billy buttons)?

Flowers with the same role, an overlapping season and a similar vase life: Statice, Alstroemeria, Solidago (goldenrod), Baby's breath.

### Can craspedia (billy buttons) be dried?

Yes. Hang small bunches upside down in a dark, airy place for two to three weeks.

## Related guides

- [Cut flower care and conditioning guide](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/cut-flower-care/)
- [Unscented and low-pollen flowers](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/unscented-flowers/)
- [Cut flower vase life chart](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flower-vase-life/)
- [Longest-lasting cut flowers](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/long-lasting-flowers/)
- [Flowers that dry well](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flowers-for-drying/)

## In season at the same time

[Rose](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/rose/) · [Lily](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lily/) · [Carnation](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/carnation/) · [Gerbera daisy](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/gerbera/) · [Lisianthus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lisianthus/) · [Baby's breath](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/gypsophila/) · [Bird of paradise](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/strelitzia/) · [Orchids (cut)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/orchid/)

Last reviewed: 2026-10-31. Reference values from common trade practice. Real results vary with variety, origin and conditioning. Pet toxicity follows the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plants list. [ASPCA](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants) · [About our data](https://floreboard.com/en/about/)