Antennaria plantaginifolia (Pussytoes)
Woman's Tobacco, Ladies' Tobacco, Everlasting, Mouse Ear, Plantain-leaf Pussytoes, Pussytoes, Plantain-Leaved Everlasting, Antennaria caroliniana, Antennaria decipiens, Antennaria denikeana, Antennaria nemoralis, Antennaria petiolata, Antennaria pinetorum, Antennaria plantaginifolia var. petiolata, Gnaphalium plantaginifolium
Antennaria plantaginifolia (Pussytoes) is a stoloniferous, mat-forming perennial forming a carpet of paddle-shaped, smooth leaves, 3 in. long (7 cm). In spring to early summer, the plant sends up erect stems, up to 10 in. (25 cm), boasting clusters of small, fuzzy, white flower heads tinged with pink. However, the best part of this plant is its foliage. Low maintenance, Antennaria plantaginifolia is a great small-scale groundcover for dry, gritty to rocky locations in full sun. A cute-looking little plant for the rock garden or rocky slopes.
- Grows up to 6-12 in. tall (15-30 cm) and 10-18 in. wide (25-45 cm). Will spread by stolons to form an attractive ground cover.
- Performs best in full sun to light shade in lean, gritty to rocky, acidic, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Grows poorly in fertile, humus-rich soils, particularly if soils are not sharply drained. Drought tolerant once established.
- Perfect as a groundcover for rock gardens, for rocky slopes, prairies and meadows.
- Generally pest and disease free.
- Cut back if the plant gets to floppy.
- Propagate by division.
- Native to North America.
Buy Antennaria plantaginifolia (Pussytoes)
Requirements
Hardiness | 3
– 8 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early) |
Height | 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm) |
Spread | 10" – 2' (25cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 15" – 18" (37cm – 45cm) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia |
Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Banks and Slopes, Ground Covers |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Prairie and Meadow |
Doug McGrady (Flickr), Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 3
– 8 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early) |
Height | 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm) |
Spread | 10" – 2' (25cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 15" – 18" (37cm – 45cm) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia |
Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Banks and Slopes, Ground Covers |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Prairie and Meadow |