Tap card to flip

Pussytoes

Antennaria plantaginifolia

Perennial

Pussytoes

Antennaria plantaginifolia

Tap to flip back

Growing Conditions

Light Full Sun

Water Dry – Medium

Soil Sandy

Size 0.5-1'

Bloom White, Apr–Jun

Why Grow It

Ground Cover Fills in to form a living carpet

Deer Resistant Great for gardens without fencing

Caterpillar Host Feeds caterpillars of native moths & butterflies

Rock Garden Thrives in rocky, well-drained spots

Did You Know?

Pussytoes is a host plant for the American Painted Lady butterfly — look for the distinctive caterpillars building silk nests among the fuzzy leaves.

Some Pussytoes populations are entirely female and produce seeds without pollination through a process called apomixis — male plants are sometimes completely absent.

The fuzzy, white flower clusters that give the plant its name were historically dried and used as a tobacco substitute by some Indigenous peoples, earning it the alternate name 'Woman's Tobacco.'

Wildlife Value

🦋

American Painted Lady Obligate host plant for caterpillars

🐝

Andrenid Bees Early spring pollinators of button-like flowers

🐝

Small Sweat Bees Visit flowers for spring pollen and nectar

Good Companions

🌸 Butterfly Milkweed 🌿 Pennsylvania Sedge 🌼 Blazing Star 🌾 Little Bluestem

Planting Guide

Plant in full sun in dry, poor to average soil.
Space 8–12 inches apart; forms a low spreading mat.
Avoid rich soil and overwatering; thrives on neglect.

Plant Details

Made with ♥ by Lu Li