Growli
Let's go

Plant care

Tian Shan Everlasting (Silver Spike) care

Helichrysum thianschanicum

Also called Tian Shan Everlasting, Silver Spike, Liquorice Plant.

RHS H5USDA 5–9Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 30–45 cm tall and 45–60 cm wide.

Watering rhythm

2-3weeks

Every 2–3 weeks; less in winter

Jump to schedule→Get smart reminders in the app

Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Very lean, sharply drained, sandy or gritty

Humidity

Low (20–45 %)

Temp

-15 °C to 30 °C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

30–45 cm tall and 45–60 cm wide.

Care at a glance

Light

Most houseplants will scorch where tian shan everlasting thrives. Give it the windowsill you'd otherwise leave empty because everything else burned there. Requires full sun for at least half the day; inadequate light weakens the silver colouring and causes lax, floppy stems. A plant moved abruptly from low light to direct sun bleaches in 48 hours — always acclimatise over a week.

Watering

Aim for every 2–3 weeks; less in winter for tian shan everlasting, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Drought-tolerant once established. Allow the top 5 cm of soil to dry before watering again; never let the plant sit in standing water.

Soil and pot

Tian Shan Everlasting grows best in very lean, sharply drained, sandy or gritty. Rich or moisture-retentive soil leads to stem rot. Add pea gravel or coarse grit generously when planting in heavier ground. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Tian Shan Everlasting sits happiest at around Low (20–45 %) humidity and -15 °C to 30 °C (5 °F to 86 °F). Continual damp air or high humidity promotes stem rot; the plant thrives in dry, well-ventilated sites resembling its high-altitude steppe origin. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed tian shan everlasting sparingly. Little or no feeding required; an optional light dressing of low-nitrogen slow-release fertiliser in spring is sufficient. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on tian shan everlasting in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Stem rot in wet conditions — Wet winters or poorly drained containers cause the crown and stems to collapse. Plant on a raised bed or mound with extra grit, and site where rain drains away rapidly.
  • Powdery mildew — Occasionally occurs in dry but overcrowded planting where airflow is restricted. Space plants generously and remove congested growth to reduce risk.

Propagation

Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer, root in gritty cuttings compost, and keep frost-free over winter. Can be grown from seed started under glass in early spring. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Tian Shan Everlasting is mildly toxic to pets. Helichrysum thianschanicum is not individually listed in the ASPCA database. Related Helichrysum species contain terpenoid compounds including camphor that may cause gastrointestinal irritation if ingested. Classified here as mildly-toxic on precautionary grounds; seek veterinary advice if a pet ingests the plant. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Tian Shan Everlasting care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Helichrysum thianschanicum?

Helichrysum thianschanicum is most commonly called Tian Shan Everlasting, but it is also known as Tian Shan Everlasting, Silver Spike, Liquorice Plant. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Tian Shan Everlasting apply identically to anything sold as Silver Spike.

How much light does tian shan everlasting need?

Tian Shan Everlasting grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Requires full sun for at least half the day; inadequate light weakens the silver colouring and causes lax, floppy stems.

How often should I water tian shan everlasting?

Water tian shan everlasting every 2–3 weeks; less in winter. Drought-tolerant once established. Allow the top 5 cm of soil to dry before watering again; never let the plant sit in standing water. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is tian shan everlasting toxic to cats and dogs?

Tian Shan Everlasting is mildly toxic to pets. Helichrysum thianschanicum is not individually listed in the ASPCA database. Related Helichrysum species contain terpenoid compounds including camphor that may cause gastrointestinal irritation if ingested. Classified here as mildly-toxic on precautionary grounds; seek veterinary advice if a pet ingests the plant.

What USDA hardiness zone does tian shan everlasting grow in?

Tian Shan Everlasting is rated for USDA zone 5–9 and RHS hardiness H5. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Tian Shan Everlasting deep-dive guides

Every aspect of tian shan everlasting care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Tian Shan Everlasting qualifies for 3 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Tian Shan Everlasting is also known as Tian Shan Everlasting, Silver Spike, and Liquorice Plant.