Pussy-Toes Antennaria solitaria
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- an-ten-AR-ee-uh sol-ih-TAR-ee-a
- Description
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Solitary Pussytoes is an herbaceous perennial wildflower native to North Carolina and the central and eastern southern states in the aster family (Asteraceae). Native habitat includes moist, rich, deciduous woodlands and forests along slopes or stream banks, and shaded forests areas that are dry and mesic. The genus name is the Medieval Latin adoption of the Greek word referring to the flower head’s bristle-like hairs resembling an insect horns or antennae. The specific epithet refers to the single flower head per stem.
Spreads by runners in full sun or light shade to form an evergreen groundcover. Found natively in acidic, dry soils, but also tolerates alkaline crevice gardens. Grow in well-drained soil to prevent root rot—propagation by cuttings. Pruning dead stems will encourage growth and improve airflow. Tolerant of drought and nutritionally poor soils.
In the spring, the plant produces 4-inch stems topped with flowers that resemble fuzzy balls. The gray-green foliage forms a dense patch and is attractive all year.
Diseases, Insect Pests and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Rydberg'
- 'Rydberg'
- 'Rydberg'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Rydberg'
- 'Rydberg'
- 'Rydberg'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Antennaria
- Species:
- solitaria
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Central and South Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- Pennsylvania to Indiana, south to Georgia and Louisiana.
- 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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit displays from April to June.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- This plant has a cluster of fuzzy, pussy toe-shaped flowers that blossom from March to May on long stalks. The flowers are white to pale purplish. The plants are dioecious - the male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers are on different plants.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basel leaves are 2 to 3 inches long and spoon-shaped and the spatulate blades are frequently gray-green and may have some purple above and wooly white underneath. They have 3 to 5 nerves (usually 3). The cauline leaves are linear and very bract-like. New growth is white but changes to green with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The flowering stems can be a little over a foot tall, and like the rest of the plant, can be somewhat woolly.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
