Sweet Everlasting wanders the margins of civilization — sandy roadsides, coastal dunes, the edges of open pinelands — with a quiet self-possession that belies its annual nature. Its narrow leaves and stems are draped in dense white wool, and when crushed they release an unexpected sweetness that has made this plant a forager's keepsake for generations. Bees find it reliably in fall when little else is blooming.

Grow it in lean, well-drained soil and resist the urge to enrich the ground; fertile conditions produce rank growth with less fragrance. It propagates freely by self-seeding, so a single plant in the right spot becomes a self-sustaining colony. Cut stems just as the clustered white flower heads are opening and hang them to dry — the scent and silver texture endure for months.