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Fragrant Rabbit Tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium

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

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:
Tags:
#fragrant#full sun tolerant#fragrant leaves#tubular flowers#low maintenance#specialized bees#NC native#wild turkeys#deer browsing plant#naturalizes#wind dispersed seeds#self-seeding#disturbed areas#pollinator plant#wildflower garden#larval host plant#predatory insects#food source fall#flowers late summer#food source herbage#sandy soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#flowers early fall#partial shade tolerant#roadside#Audubon#american lady butterfly#weed#wildlife friendly#meadow
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#full sun tolerant#fragrant leaves#tubular flowers#low maintenance#specialized bees#NC native#wild turkeys#deer browsing plant#naturalizes#wind dispersed seeds#self-seeding#disturbed areas#pollinator plant#wildflower garden#larval host plant#predatory insects#food source fall#flowers late summer#food source herbage#sandy soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#flowers early fall#partial shade tolerant#roadside#Audubon#american lady butterfly#weed#wildlife friendly#meadow
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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