Antennaria neglecta , or Field Pussytoes, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the daisy family with soft wooly hairs all over the leaves. It can reach a height of 1 foot, but is typically 6 inches or less. It consists of a rosette of basal leaves that form a mat and can be used as a ground cover in small spaces or rock gardens. It also produces flowers on a short stalk in the spring. These flowerheads resemble compact tufts of white hair. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about 3 weeks. There is no noticeable floral scent. Field Pussytoes spread by means of horizontal stolons that develop small replicas of the mother plant that root in the ground and form dense colonies. The root system consists of a central taproot. Field Pussytoes prefer partial or full sun and mesic to dry conditions, and well-drained soils. This plant flourishes in dry or shady sites with poor soil that is rocky or contains clay. It can be difficult to grow, but under favorable conditions where the requirements for dry conditions and rocky soil are met, it will spread and be an attractive ground cover. Field Pussytoes are similar to Antennaria plantaginifolia (Plantain-Leaved Pussytoes), which has wider basal leaves with prominent parallel veins. Both plants do well in rock gardens. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Most of the plant's development occurs during the spring, thus avoiding most pests and diseases.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping; Dense; Spreading
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Oblanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The basal leaves are up to 2 inches long and ½ inch across. There is a single prominent vein on the upper surface of each basal leaf, while the lower surface is white and hairy. There are small alternate narrowly lanceolate or linear leaves along the pubescent flowering stalk.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Green; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flower clusters blossom from April to June and are about 1/3 or an inch long and either staminate or pistillate. Each flower cluster has over 20 small unscented flower heads.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
The flower heads are quickly replaced by achenes with small tufts of white hair, which are distributed by the wind. Fruits on female plants are seed-like achenes, with the fruiting heads resembling the fruiting heads of miniature dandelions.
Stem detail
In spring, a flower stalk rises from the center of each basal rosette to 8 to 12 inches tall bearing crowded terminal clusters of flowers.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Sub Artic North America
Distribution
Maine to Montana, south to Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina. It is found in all Canadian provinces.
Wildlife value
Host for the American painted lady butterfly caterpillar.