Antennaria neglecta
field pussytoes
Overview
Antennaria neglecta is a low, mat-forming perennial that spreads by stolons into a groundcover 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) tall in leaf, with flower stalks rising 4-16 inches (10-40 cm). The basal leaves are spoon-shaped, 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long, and covered in woolly white hairs that give them a silver-gray cast. In spring the plant sends up slender stalks topped with tight clusters of small, woolly flower heads in white to pale pink, their rounded form resembling a cat's paw. The species is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants; female colonies set seed while male plants are scarce in many populations. It grows in dry fields, prairies, open woods, and disturbed ground across much of North America. A. neglecta needs full sun and tolerates poor, dry, rocky soils, spreading steadily to cover bare ground, but it thins in rich, moist, or shaded sites. The foliage is evergreen to semi-evergreen, holding its silver color through winter in mild climates. It serves as a larval host for the American lady butterfly. Hardy in USDA zones 3-8.
Native Range
Antennaria neglecta is native to North America, ranging across most of Canada and the central and eastern United States. It grows in dry prairies, old fields, open woodlands, and disturbed roadsides, often in poor or sandy soil.Suggested Uses
Used as a drought-tolerant groundcover, in rock gardens, and between stepping stones in dry sites. Suited to poor soils where turf and other groundcovers thin out. Planted 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart to knit into a continuous mat.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'4"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Blooms in spring, generally April to June, with flowering lasting 3-5 weeks. The woolly flower heads age from white to brown as seed forms. Bloom timing shifts earlier in southern parts of the range.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
White to pale pinkFoliage Description
Silver-grayGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun in dry, low-fertility soil with sharp drainage; sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils are suitable. Water only until established, after which plants need no irrigation. Rich or moist soil causes the mats to thin and lose their silver color. Plants spread by stolons into a dense groundcover and can be divided in spring to expand plantings. No fertilizer is needed, and feeding reduces the silvery foliage. Light foot traffic is tolerated but not heavy use.Pruning
Trim spent flower stalks after bloom to keep the mat low. Lift or divide spreading runners in spring to control the patch. Remove matted winter debris as new growth begins.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer