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Field Pussytoes Antennaria neglecta

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
an-te-NAIR-ee-uh na-GLEK-tuh
Description

Antennaria neglecta, or Field Pussytoes, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the daisy family with soft wooly hairs all over the leaves. It can reach a height of 1 foot, but is typically 6 inches or less. It consists of a rosette of basal leaves that form a mat and can be used as a ground cover in small spaces or rock gardens. It also produces flowers on a short stalk in the spring. These flowerheads resemble compact tufts of white hair. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about 3 weeks. There is no noticeable floral scent. Field Pussytoes spread by means of horizontal stolons that develop small replicas of the mother plant that root in the ground and form dense colonies. The root system consists of a central taproot.

Field Pussytoes prefer partial or full sun and mesic to dry conditions, and well-drained soils. This plant flourishes in dry or shady sites with poor soil that is rocky or contains clay. It can be difficult to grow, but under favorable conditions where the requirements for dry conditions and rocky soil are met, it will spread and be an attractive ground cover.

Field Pussytoes are similar to Antennaria plantaginifolia (Plantain-Leaved Pussytoes), which has wider basal leaves with prominent parallel veins. Both plants do well in rock gardens.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

Most of the plant's development occurs during the spring, thus avoiding most pests and diseases.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#drought tolerant#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#rock garden#hairy leaves#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#drought tolerant#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#rock garden#hairy leaves#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Antennaria
    Species:
    neglecta
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Sub Artic North America
    Distribution:
    Maine to Montana, south to Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina. It is found in all Canadian provinces.
    Wildlife Value:
    Host for the American painted lady butterfly caterpillar.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    drought
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Dense
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    The flower heads are quickly replaced by achenes with small tufts of white hair, which are distributed by the wind. Fruits on female plants are seed-like achenes, with the fruiting heads resembling the fruiting heads of miniature dandelions.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The flower clusters blossom from April to June and are about 1/3 or an inch long and either staminate or pistillate. Each flower cluster has over 20 small unscented flower heads.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The basal leaves are up to 2 inches long and ½ inch across. There is a single prominent vein on the upper surface of each basal leaf, while the lower surface is white and hairy. There are small alternate narrowly lanceolate or linear leaves along the pubescent flowering stalk.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    In spring, a flower stalk rises from the center of each basal rosette to 8 to 12 inches tall bearing crowded terminal clusters of flowers.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Small Space
    Landscape Theme:
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil