The flat-topped Helichrysum cymosum inflorescence before opening comprises a multitude of pointed flowerhead buds in different stages of development. The colouring is still more lemon-yellow than the bright yellow of the open flowerheads.

The cone-shaped buds are smoothly covered by obscure yellow involucral bracts and densely crowded at the stem-tip. A flowerhead becomes about 3 mm long and 1 mm wide (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007).