The soft, white flower clusters resemble tiny cat paws, giving this plant its charming common name “Pussytoes.”
Pussytoes serve as the larval host plant for the American Lady Butterfly, making it ecologically important for pollinator gardens.
Its gray-green, fuzzy leaves provide ornamental interest even after flowering, and the foliage forms attractive ground-hugging mats.
Highly drought-tolerant and resistant to deer and rabbits, it’s a durable native groundcover for challenging sites.
Spreads slowly by rhizomes to form dense colonies, helping prevent soil erosion on slopes and dry banks.
The soft, white flower clusters resemble tiny cat paws, giving this plant its charming common name “Pussytoes.”
Pussytoes serve as the larval host plant for the American Lady Butterfly, making it ecologically important for pollinator gardens.
Its gray-green, fuzzy leaves provide ornamental interest even after flowering, and the foliage forms attractive ground-hugging mats.
Highly drought-tolerant and resistant to deer and rabbits, it’s a durable native groundcover for challenging sites.
Spreads slowly by rhizomes to form dense colonies, helping prevent soil erosion on slopes and dry banks.
Bloom: mid- to late spring
Habitats: abandoned fields; areas along woodland paths; bluffs; disturbed open woodlands; hill prairies; limestone glades; openings in upland forests; pastures; thickets; wooded slopes
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: average to dry
Plant type (height): forb (up to 6 inches)
Requirements: full sun to light shade
Soil: poor soil that contains clay, rocky material, or sand
