PUSSYTOES (Antennaria howellii)
Small, basal rosettes sport many leaves that often start out covered in fine, woolly hairs, but shed these hairs as they get older. The single flower stalk is topped with the cutest flowers you’ll ever see – they really do resemble a kitten’s toes! Male and female flowers occur on separate plants. The female flowers develop loose fluffy seeds that are wind-dispersed. Plants are stoloniferous (like strawberries) and form dense mats when competition for light is low. Does well in dry meadows, open woods and lawns.
(Left photo: female flowers; right photo: male flowers.)
Flower Colour: white
Life Cycle: perennial
Sun Exposure: sun – part shade
Bloom Period: May – June
Height: 4 – 16”
Soil: dry – medium