Ladies' Tobacco, or pussytoes (Antennaria parlinii), is a native North American perennial that thrives where most plants struggle: dry, rocky, and shaded spots that would defeat lesser groundcovers. This stoloniferous mat-former produces delicate, woolly white flower clusters from April through June, attracting butterflies while asking almost nothing in return. Hardy from zones 5 to 9 and reaching just 6 to 12 inches tall, it spreads to form a soft, silvery carpet across 9 to 18 inches, making it exceptional for naturalizing difficult terrain.
Partial Sun
Moderate
5-9
12in H x 18in W
—
Low
Hover over chart points for details
This native plant grows contentedly in dry shade, one of the rare perennials that actually prefers lean, rocky soil over the fertile beds most gardeners prepare. Its grayish, woolly foliage has an unmistakable softness, and the fuzzy white flower heads emerge in spring like tiny caterpillars standing at attention, earning it the common name pussytoes. Low maintenance, drought tolerant, and butterfly-friendly, it transforms inhospitable corners into living groundcover without fuss.
Ladies' Tobacco serves as a groundcover for dry, rocky, or shaded areas where conventional plants falter, and it excels at naturalizing native plant gardens and meadows. It stabilizes shallow, poor soils while providing early-season nectar and pollen for butterflies and other pollinators, making it valuable in pollinator conservation plantings.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
No care instructions available yet for this variety.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Antennaria parlinii is native to eastern and central North America, where it evolved to colonize dry, rocky slopes and poor soils that few other plants can tolerate. The genus Antennaria itself takes its name from the antenna-like appearance of its flower structures. As a wild native with a long history in native plant communities, it has only recently been recognized as a garden-worthy groundcover, offering gardeners a way to work with their challenging sites rather than against them.”