Fragrant Cudweed Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Gnaphalium obtusifolium
- Gnaphalium obtusifolium var. praecox
- Pseudognaphalium
- Phonetic Spelling
- soo-doh-naf-FAY-lee-um ob-too-sih-FOH-lee-um
- Description
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Sweet Everlasting is a summer annual or biennial plant with silvery-green stems and leaves in the daisy family. The underside of the leaves, stems and base of bracts of this plant are covered with dense white woolly hairs. The root system is fibrous and the plant propagates itself by self-seeding. Its narrow elliptical leaves are aromatic when crushed. It is usually found in openings, woodlands, coastal dunes, sandy pinelands, roadsides, and disturbed areas.
- 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:
- Pseudognaphalium
- Species:
- obtusifolium
- Family:
- Asteracaeae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Has been used in traditional medicine to treat colds, fevers and sore throats.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Canada to U.S.A
- Distribution:
- Alberta east to Nova Scotia, south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Nebraska and Minnesota.
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) larvae. The American Lady has flights throughout the whole year in the Deep South as well as South Texas, but have 3-4 broods in most areas which occur from May through November. Short-tongued bees, wasps, and flies. Wild turkey and deer browse the foliage.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- 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:
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Brown bullet shaped achene with tufts of white hairs displays from September to December and are distributed by wind.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Branching panicle of corymbs of yellow or brown buds that emerge to white tubular flower heads on 1-2 ft. stem. Flowers are 1/4". Blooms from late summer to early fall, August to November.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Rosette of leaves at the base alternate leaves ascend the stem 3" long and 1/3" wide smooth to slightly undulate margins with prominent central vein. Upper surface of leaf is green with a few hairs and the underside is covered in silvery wooly hairy. Leaves give off maple syrup smell when crushed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems almost white with silvery soft hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Predatory Insects
- Specialized Bees
- Problems:
- Weedy
