Field Pussytoes
Named for its white tufted flowers that look like tiny cat's feet, Pussytoes is a delightful little plant, and especially attractive when it blooms in small patches. Reaching only a foot high or less, a single stem is topped with a fuzzy white …
Soil Type | Gravel, Loam, Sand |
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Soil Moisture | Dry, Medium |
Sun Exposure | Full Sun, Partial |
Height | 6" - 1' |
Bloom Color | White |
Bloom Time | Apr, May, June |
Spacing | 1' |
Hardiness Zones | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
Root Type | Rhizome |
Benefits | Pollinators, Host Plant, Deer Resistant |
Named for its white tufted flowers that look like tiny cat's feet, Field Pussytoes is a delightful little plant, and especially attractive when it blooms in small patches. Reaching only a foot high or less, a single stem is topped with a fuzzy white flower, while the leaves hug the ground. An excellent rock garden plant, Pussytoes are also known for their soft, silvery basal leaves, which spread to form a low groundcover in dry areas. Plant it with Prairie Smoke in the rock garden for a sweet spring combination.
Found growing across much of the Midwest and Northeast, it prefers full or partial sun, and medium to dry conditions. It grows well in a variety of soils whether rocky, sandy gravel, mesic/clay, or fertile loam, as long as the soil and site are well-drained. Habitats include medium to dry black soil prairies, clay prairies, open woodlands or dry meadows, abandoned fields and roadsides.
Field Pussytoes is a host plant for caterpillars of the American Painted Lady butterfly, which feed on the foliage. Both deer and rabbits will avoid this plant.