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Antennaria plantaginifolia

Phonetic Spelling
an-ten-AIR-ee-uh plan-tah-JIN-ih-foh-lee-uh
Description

Plantain pussytoes is a herbaceous perennial ground cover in the aster (Asteraceae) family. that is native to eastern USA including NC. It is short, growing only 6 inches tall and spreads 1-2 feet wide. The plant forms stolons that take root a short distance from the mother plant making it useful as a groundcover. 

The Genus name comes from the Latin word antenna because the male flowers look like antennae. Specific epithet means having leaves like plantain.

The plant consists of a basal rosette of leaves and an erect stem bearing the flowers. It does best planted in full sun to part shade in lean, dry rocky or sandy soil with little organic matter.  It suffers in soils too rich in organic matter or that drain poorly. 

In the spring, a central stem develops from the basal leaves. At the apex of the central stem is a small cluster of about 3 to 6 male or female flowerheads. The blooms occur mid-to-late spring, lasting about 2-3 weeks. It is followed by achenes that have short white hairs. This stem then dies down in summer leaving the rosette of basal leaves.

Use this plant at the border front, around shrubs or trees or in small spaces as a ground cover. Attracts pollinators.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problem, though it can be challenging to grow if soil conditions are not met. The semi-evergreen basal leaves often become discolored and withered with age.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Pinehurst Greenway Pollinator Habitat Garden, Moore County
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#nectar plant#spring flowers#showy stems#disease resistant#NC native#pest resistant#mat#trailing#wooly leaves#native garden#groundcover#spring interest#pollinator plant#larval host plant#food source spring#food source herbage#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#Audubon#american lady butterfly#perennial#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#nectar plant#spring flowers#showy stems#disease resistant#NC native#pest resistant#mat#trailing#wooly leaves#native garden#groundcover#spring interest#pollinator plant#larval host plant#food source spring#food source herbage#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#Audubon#american lady butterfly#perennial#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Antennaria
    Species:
    plantaginifolia
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    In North America, the plant was nominally called "Indian tobacco," as it was often chewed by children in place of real tobacco
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern Canada to Eastern United States
    Distribution:
    North America
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant supports American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) larvae which appear from May to November. In the deep south they will appear all year long. American Lady butterflies feed on flower nectar almost exclusively.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Likes rocky, dry, lean soils, & little organic matter soils; No major insect or disease problem
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Dense
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    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 Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit displays from April to June. The achene has white resinous dots, and tufts of white hair. They are distributed by the wind.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Dried
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers appear in clusters at the end of stems. They are either male or female flowers. Flowerheads are about 1/2 inch long and wide and have green hairy bracts at the bases. Female flowers have numerous thread-like fluffy white styles at the top while male flowers occur in rounded heads with white flowers that have a brown stamens protruding from the center. Flowering is early to late spring.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are woolly gray-green and resemble a plantain plant. The basal leaves are up to 3½ inches long and 2 inches across. They have smooth margins and are on long petioles. Mature basal leaves have 3 to 5 conspicuous veins. The undersides are densely hairy. The stem leaves are smaller, being 1.5 inches long and clasp the stem. They tend to be more hairy than the basal leaves.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    The central stem is densely covered with appressed white hairs along its length
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Diseases
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Insect Pests
    Poor Soil