Helichrysum, Licorice Plant 'White Licorice'

Zone 5b. I have been planting White Licorice vine in my pots and planters for many years on and off. It always does well for me. I h...Read Moreave never seen flowers on it. Maybe it needs a longer growing season to flower then my zone allows. (?)
This June I noticed white silky, sticky masses on the growing tips and didn't know what it was. I pulled some of this material off the plant and inspected it with my fingers, then a magnifying glass. I didn't see anything in it. I figured they were nests, but what kind?
I waited and watched to see what would happen. Who was depositing their eggs on the plants. I have 5 plants all in different planters scattered about the yard. A couple of weeks or so later I saw tiny Caterpillars coming out of the cocoon like nests to forage on the leaves. Then I a few days later I saw who was laying their eggs. It had become obvious by then. Red Admiral Butterflies.
This was a pleasant surprise for me. I had lots of these Butterflies ( they love the Canadian White Lilac tree blooms by the house ) and lots of little Caterpillars on my White Licorice vine plants. I had fun watching them grow. I took many pictures of them. The plants were getting ratty looking, but the Caterpillars looked bigger every day. Lol. At one point I started pinching some of the nests off the plants, there were so many of them. The Caterpillars eventually disappeared and the Vines grew and grew after they left.
Here it is November 3, we have had temperatures below freezing at least 6 times now and down to 21 degrees once and the plants have not shown damage yet. Not exactly super happy looking, but far from damaged or dead. Hmm.. Love this vine.

I will submit a picture of a Caterpillar.

Here in New England, this is a good plant for containers and bedding.

In California, it's naturalized. CAL-IPC has listed ...Read Moreit as invasive of natural habitat, and is urging gardeners to grow something else in its place.

This is the second season and the plant is thriving beautifully. Now it is in full bloom and the flowers have a golden yellow appearance ...Read Morein small clusters. A very unique, pungent smell that attracts flies. Not noticeable unless you get a very close whiff. Excellent on a retaining wall in a dry landscape environment. Can be a focal point in a rock garden. I highly recommend this plant.

This plant is thriving in zone 9B. The mound is about 2' tall and home to several lizards now! I cut it back last week by 1/3, so now i...Read Morets only about 5' long. Its foliage is very dense on top and slowly spreads and takes over other plants, but can easily be pulled out without the need of heavy duty scissors.