Intro: Erect, colony-forming perennial that spreads by runners, found in dry forests, woodlands, barrens, clearings, meadows and road banks.

Stems: Stem an unbranched flowering stalk arising from a basal rosette and covered with white hairs.

Leaves: Basal leaves petiolate, spoon-shaped, to 3 in. long, with 3 major veins, green above and densely white-hairy below; stem leaves smaller, ascending, alternate, clasping, hairy above.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Male and female flowers on separate plants, in compact umbel-like, terminal clusters of heads; heads creamy white (sometimes tinged pink), 1/4-1/2 in. wide, each consisting of a dense cluster of tiny florets surrounded at the base by whorls of light green, white-tipped bracts. Male (staminate) florets have brownish, tubular anthers, while the female (pistillate florets) are fluffy white with multiple styles.

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Comments:

Height: 2 1/2-8 in.

plant sale text: Plantain Pussytoes is an interesting, somewhat slow-growing, groundcover with grey-green wooly-looking leaves. It is perfect for full sun to light shade spots that are well-drained with lean, or rocky soil. It does not tolerate soils too rich in organic matter or that drain poorly. In the spring it sends up attractive small white flowers that are quite striking en masse. The flowers are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are found on separate plants. The flowers attract bees, pollinators and butterflies, and it is a host plant for the American Painted Lady butterfly.

bloom table text:

description: Erect, colony-forming perennial that spreads by runners, found in dry forests, woodlands, barrens, clearings, meadows and road banks.

stems: Stem an unbranched flowering stalk arising from a basal rosette and covered with white hairs.

leaves: Basal leaves petiolate, spoon-shaped, to 3 in. long, with 3 major veins, green above and densely white-hairy below; stem leaves smaller, ascending, alternate, clasping, hairy above.

inflorescence:

flowers: Male and female flowers on separate plants, in compact umbel-like, terminal clusters of heads; heads creamy white (sometimes tinged pink), 1/4-1/2 in. wide, each consisting of a dense cluster of tiny florets surrounded at the base by whorls of light green, white-tipped bracts. Male (staminate) florets have brownish, tubular anthers, while the female (pistillate florets) are fluffy white with multiple styles.

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native range: eastern & central North America