Antennaria microphylla in the Landscape

Diane Jones, Draggin Wing Farm, Water-thrifty Plants for Idaho

Scientfic Name:  Antennaria microphylla
Common Name:  Littleleaf Pussytoes, Rosy Pussytoes, Pink Pussytoes

Description:  Very low growing, tight groundcover gives rise to pinkish "pussytoe" blossoms in spring. Spreads nicely around garden rocks and thrives in dry sunny areas with poor, well-drained soil. Retains grey-green leaves all winter.

Native Habitat:  Rosy pussytoes is a hightly variable species found in dry, open habitats including plains, hills, open woods, and dry meadows throughout the Western U.S. and Canada. Hardy to zone 2.

Cultural Requirement

Soil:  Well-drained, shallow, nutrient-poor or ordinary garden soil

Moisture Tolerance:  Low to very low supplemental water; does well on drip

Sun/Shade/Preference:  Full sun

Transplanting:  Easy

Propagation:  Seed, cuttings or division

Maintenance (pruning, fertilization, deadheading, division, irrigation, etc):  Basal leaves tend to die back somewhat after flowering, but will regenerate by later summer. To maintain as a solid groundcover, prevent flowering by shearing off flower stalks in late spring. Needs little or no fertilization.

Insect, disease, or other problems:  None of concern

Landscape Value

Use in the Landscape:  Attractive evergreen groundcover. Use in low borders or xeric rock gardens.

Foliage:  Spreading low mats of silver leaves are attractive all year.

Flower:  Cute little "pussytoes" in shades of white or pink.

Timing:  Mid May-Mid June

Color:  shades of white, pink, red or purple

Fruit:  The fruit is an achene 0.03 to 0.05 inch long

Form:  Spreading mat

Texture:  Dense

Ultimate Size:  One inch by variable width

Rate of Growth:  Moderate growth with supplemental water

Suggested Plant Partners:  Woolly Sunflower, Cutleaf Daisy

Availability:  Occasionally available at specialty nurseries

Cultivars:  None

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