Prairie Pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta)

$5.00
Out of Stock

Prairie Pussytoes have nice velvety leaves and small flowers that attract small bees (illinoiswildflower.info) including the specialist bee Melissodes microstictus (Johnson and Colla, 2023). It is also the host plant for the American Lady and 2 other species of butterflies and moths in the area (nwf.org). It spreads slowly, providing a nice-looking ground cover for dry areas. Mammalian herbivores typically avoid it, but it may be browsed in early spring.

Photo credit: Joshua Mayer (1), John Blair (2)

Size:

Prairie Pussytoes have nice velvety leaves and small flowers that attract small bees (illinoiswildflower.info) including the specialist bee Melissodes microstictus (Johnson and Colla, 2023). It is also the host plant for the American Lady and 2 other species of butterflies and moths in the area (nwf.org). It spreads slowly, providing a nice-looking ground cover for dry areas. Mammalian herbivores typically avoid it, but it may be browsed in early spring.

Photo credit: Joshua Mayer (1), John Blair (2)

Life Cycle: Perennial

Sun Exposure: Full, Partial

Soil Moisture: Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry

Height: 4 inches

Plant Spacing: 2-6 inches

Bloom Time: April-June

Bloom Color: White

Advantages: Deer Resistant, Great Landscaping Plant

Host Plant: American Lady and 2 other species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org)

Specialist Bee: Melissodes microstictus (Johnson and Colla, 2023)

Resource: Johnson, Lorraine, and Sheila Colla. A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Upper Midwest. Island Press, 2023

Complementary Plants: Prairie Smoke, Pearly Everlasting, Golden Alexander, Wild Strawberry, Blue-eyed Grass, Violet.

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