SEED ORDERS OVER $100 SHIP FREE!
Antennaria plantaginifolia

Pussytoes

$3.00 - $169.00

Packet
$3.00
1/8 oz.
$23.75
1/4 oz
$42.50

Bare Root Plants
Out of Stock

Tray of 50
$169.00

A member of the Aster family, Pussytoes are found across much of the eastern half of the continental United States: from Minnesota south to Texas, east to Florida and north to Maine. Other common names in use include Woman's Tobacco and Plantain-leaved Pussytoes.

Pussytoes are usually grown for their velvety leaves rather than the white to pale pink flower. The late spring flowers look like tiny cat's feet, thus the name. These flowers will reach up to about a foot in height, but the leaves grow at ground level.  Spreading by stolons, Pussytoes provide a good ground cover for dry areas such as rock gardens.  Parts of the plant are poisonous so deer and rabbits and other small animals won't touch them.A. plantaginifolia and A. neglecta can be difficult to differentiate; their primary differences exist in their leaves. A. plantaginifolia has broader leaves with 3-5 prominent veins compared to the 1-2 prominent veins seen in the narrower leaves of A. neglectaA. neglecta also tends to be shorter. Both are larvae hosts for the American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginensis).

*This species may be difficult and/or slow to germinate and grow to maturity.  Please note the germination code.

Live Plant Shipping Table

Spring Fall Age/Size
Dormant Bare Roots April/May N/A 1 Year
Potted Trays of 50 May/June August 2" wide x 5" deep plugs

Antennaria plantaginifolia - Pussytoes

Map Key

Present in state
Present but introduced in county
Present and native in county; not rare
Not present in state
Present and native in county; rare
Species extirpated (historic)
State or county listed as noxious
Present in state; exotic

This map shows the native and introduced (adventive) range of this species. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range.

6 Questions asked on Antennaria plantaginifolia

What butterfly has a caterpillar that would be on this plant in July? It had bands of green and brown with white dots.
Hi Sharon. Yes, I'm certain you are seeing the American Painted Lady butterfly larvae! They are in abundance this time of year on Pussytoes, and also another great native that is sometimes confused for Pussytoes - Pearly Everlasting!
In one of the photos, it looks like this plant (Pussytoes) was planted as a walking path. Would this plant stand up to light foot traffic like say between random stone pavers?
Hi Don, Yes! That’s exactly right. Pussytoes will hold up to light foot traffic and would be lovely between stone pavers.
I bought these seeds, and plan to winter sow so they'll get their cold stratification outside and sprout in spring. Should I plant them out right away? Or let them grow a bit in pots and plant out in fall? I prefer to not direct sow in place. Thanks!
Hi Leisa, Direct sowing in the fall is our favorite method for planting seed because it is simple and reduces the chances for things going wrong. However, many people have success sowing into trays and leaving them outside for the winter.
I see that pussytoes are not in Ohio or Michigan but are in all surrounding states. Did the go extinct or were they never native? Odd to have such an abrupt demarcation just for 2 states...
Hi Vida. Yes, that is an odd range map. It likely was/is native in OH and MI but there was no confirmed plant sighting submitted to support that.
I plan to try to direct sow these in the fall in a newly established garden. I notice that the seeds are very small/need light to germinate. Do you recommend covering these seeds to protect them through the winter until spring?
Hi Tipa. Although these seeds are quite small, the winter weather will settle them into the new site - no covering necessary! If you are worried the seed might get blown by the wind, you can water them in or roll/gently compact the site.
Would this work well as a Bee Lawn plant if it was mowed to 6inches tall?
Hi Heidi. These would make a great addition in a Bee Lawn planting. For maximum pollinator support and growing your Pussytoes population, begin mowing regimens after they have flowered and spread their seed.

Seed

Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow.

Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Seed dormancy can be broken artificially by prolonged refrigeration of damp seed in the process of cold/moist STRATIFICATION. A less complicated approach is to let nature handle the stratifying through a dormant seeding, sowing seeds on the surface of a weed-free site in late fall or winter. Tucked safely beneath the snow, seeds will be conditioned by weathering to make germination possible in subsequent growing seasons.

To learn more, read our BLOG: How to Germinate Native Seeds

Dormant Bare Root Plants

We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order.

Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants

Potted Plants

3-packs and trays of 32, 38, or 50 plants leave our Midwest greenhouses based on species readiness (being well-rooted for transit) and order date; Spring shipping is typically early May through June, and Fall shipping is mid-August through September. Potted 3-packs and trays of 38 plugs are started from seed in the winter so are typically 3-4 months old when they ship. Trays of 32/50 plugs are usually overwintered so are 1 year old. Plant tray cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays of 38 and 50, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs and trays of 32; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Full-color tags and planting & care instructions are included with each order.

Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.

Shipping & Handling Charges

SEED $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!

Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost
(for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required)

BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost. (For orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required.)

TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US).

**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.

Shipping Season

SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.

BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.

POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.

Delivery

We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order.

FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.

Details

Seeds/Packet
300
Seeds/Ounce
275,000
Germination Code
C(60)
D
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Exposure
Full, Partial
Soil Moisture
Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Height
12 inches
Bloom Time
April, May, June
Bloom Color
White
Advantages
Deer Resistant
Highly recommended for home landscaping
USDA Zones
3-8
Plant Spacing
2-6"
Catalog Code
ANT04F