Field Pussytoes Antennaria neglecta
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- an-te-NAIR-ee-uh na-GLEK-tuh
- Description
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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:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
