Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia)
an-ten-NAR-ee-ah plantaginifolia

Deciduous Perennial Low, mat-forming; spreads by stolons in the Asteraceae Family
 
Buy Pussytoes
Size Notes Price Availability
Tray of 6 #1 gallons Field

Retail ready. Native (9/13)

 $74.40 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4

Fuzzy white flowers atop soft gray foliage

Antennaria plantaginifolia (Plantain-leaved Pussytoes) is a low, mat-forming native perennial named for its broad, plantain-like basal leaves — wider than most other pussytoes species. The soft, silvery-gray foliage forms a dense rosette, and in mid-to-late spring, clusters of small white flowerheads tinged with pink rise on short stalks just above the leaves, resembling a cat's toes. Like all Antennaria, it is dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants, and it spreads over time by stolons into a low, weed-suppressing groundcover.

Pros

  • Tough, drought-tolerant native for lean, dry soil
  • Deer- and rabbit-resistant
  • Host plant for American Lady butterfly caterpillars
  • Spreads to form a dense, low-maintenance groundcover

Cons

  • Needs lean, well-drained soil; declines in rich or wet sites
  • Can be slow to establish
  • Spreading habit may need containing in small beds
Why Like Plantain-leaved pussytoes asks for almost nothing -- it thrives in the dry, rocky, low-fertility soil that defeats most garden perennials, quietly forming a soft gray mat where little else will grow. It's an early-season nectar source for small native bees and the required host plant for American Lady butterfly caterpillars, making it a small but genuine contributor to a native pollinator garden.
Highlights The broadest leaves of the pussytoes group, giving this species a bolder texture than most Antennaria. Its silvery foliage and early white-pink blooms make it a dependable, low-care groundcover for the driest, leanest parts of the garden, while also supporting native bees and serving as a larval host for the American Lady butterfly.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 4 - 12 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Deciduous, Dry, Full Sun, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial
Bloom Period April to June
Flower Color White Tinged With Pink
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 08/10 - 08/23
2024 : 05/01 - 06/15
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!