Solitary Pussytoes is an herbaceous perennial wildflower native to North Carolina and the central and eastern southern states in the aster family (Asteraceae). Native habitat includes moist, rich, deciduous woodlands and forests along slopes or stream banks, and shaded forests areas that are dry and mesic. The genus name is the Medieval Latin adoption of the Greek word referring to the flower head’s bristle-like hairs resembling an insect horns or antennae. The specific epithet refers to the single flower head per stem. Spreads by runners in full sun or light shade to form an evergreen groundcover. Found natively in acidic, dry soils, but also tolerates alkaline crevice gardens. Grow in well-drained soil to prevent root rot—propagation by cuttings. Pruning dead stems will encourage growth and improve airflow. Tolerant of drought and nutritionally poor soils. In the spring, the plant produces 4-inch stems topped with flowers that resemble fuzzy balls. The gray-green foliage forms a dense patch and is attractive all year. Use this plant on slopes, mass planted and in rock, shade and pollinator gardens. Diseases, Insect Pests and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
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.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping; Dense; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Oblong; Obovate; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Basel leaves are 2 to 3 inches long and spoon-shaped and the spatulate blades are frequently gray-green and may have some purple above and wooly white underneath. They have 3 to 5 nerves (usually 3). The cauline leaves are linear and very bract-like. New growth is white but changes to green with age.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower detail
This plant has a cluster of fuzzy, pussy toe-shaped flowers that blossom from March to May on long stalks. The flowers are white to pale purplish. The plants are dioecious - the male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers are on different plants.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
Fruit displays from April to June.
Stem detail
The flowering stems can be a little over a foot tall, and like the rest of the plant, can be somewhat woolly.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
South Central and South Eastern United States
Distribution
Pennsylvania to Indiana, south to Georgia and Louisiana.
Wildlife value
This plant supports American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) larvae which appear from May to November. In the deep south they will appear all year long. American Lady butterflies feed on flower nectar almost exclusively.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Spring
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Rock Wall; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden