Common Elephant's Foot Elephantopus tomentosus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Elephantopus carolinianus var. simplex
- Elephantopus nudicaulis
- Phonetic Spelling
- el-eh-fun-TOE-pus toh-men-TOH-sus
- Description
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Elephant's foot is a wildflower in the Asteraceae (daisy family) native from Texas to the southeastern U.S.A. It can be found growing in its natural habitat of fairly dry woodlands and woodland borders. It may also be found in disturbed areas such as roadsides, clear cut, or burned locations.
It prefers average, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. It has a short rhizome and grows quickly to a height of 2 feet with pink or purple flowers. The leaves form at the base of the plants, are of various sizes, overlap each other around the stem, and lay flat close to the ground. The flowering stalk has no leaves, with the exception of the bracts under the flowers.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Because of its aggressive tendencies and ability to self-seed easily is it not recommended as a landscape plant. The growth habit (leaves forming just above ground level) tends to smother out other plant growth and because the leaves are so close to the ground a weed trimmer is fairly useless in managing them.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Elephantopus
- Species:
- tomentosus
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in Asia for treatment of pain and inflammation.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies and other pollinators. The leaves are eaten by wildlife.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Ribbed achene
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Head
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are in head form arranged in panicles or corymbs. 4 to 5 lobed (funnelform) disk flowers are pink or purple, rarely white surrounded by three conspicuous bracts. Bloom from August through November.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblanceolate
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are veined, typically basal lying flat on the ground, however, you may find a few alternate leaves along the stem.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The hairy stem has few (if any) small leaves and divides into flowering stalks.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Problems:
- Weedy
