Antennaria Plant Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners

Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 21st Nov 2023

In this Gardener's HQ guide, we'll explore cultivating Antennaria plants in your garden, indoor spaces, and other settings.

Pussy toes, Cats ears, & Ladies-tobacco: Cultivation & Garden Use

The hardy perennial Antennaria typically flowers from spring early summer.

Plants belong to the Aster (Asteraceae) family.

Elaine Haug @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database Smithsonian Institution, Department of Systematic Biology-Botany.

Description of Antennaria

Antennaria are small plants that rarely grow higher than 15 cm (6 inches) and often have a mat forming nature.

They have tubular clustered flowers of pink, red or white, and small, woolly grayish green leaves. They make ideal plants for a rockery.

Antennaria Plant Species

Antennaria dioica - Mountain Everlasting

Antennaria dioica grows to about 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) tall. It has woolly, silvery-green leaves. Mountain Everlasting carries clusters of pink or white flowers.

Antennaria dioica photograph by Carmona Rodriguez.

The plant enjoys a location with full sun to part shade. A well-drained soil is important. It's perfect for rock gardens, borders, or as a ground cover.

Antennaria neglecta - Field Pussytoes

Antennaria neglecta is a perennial that reaches a height of 6 to 10 inches (15-25 cm). Field Pussytoes produces woolly, gray-green leaves and clusters of white flowers.

It prefers full sun and a well-drained soil. It is ideal for rock gardens, wildflower gardens, or as a ground cover.

Antennaria plantaginifolia - Plantain-leaved Pussytoes

Antennaria plantaginifolia is a perennial that grows up to 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm) tall. Plantain-leaved Pussytoes has woolly spatulate leaves, and clusters of white flowers.

Plants prefer to grow in an area with full sun and in a soil with good drainage. It mmakes a good plant for rock gardens, borders, or ground cover.

Antennaria rosea - Rosy Pussytoes

The perennial Antennaria rosea grows to a height of 6 to 12 inches (15-30 cm). Rosy Pussytoes bears woolly, gray-green leaves and has clusters of pink flowers.

They do well in full sun and well-drained soil. It can be used as a rock garden plant, in wildflower gardens, or as a ground cover plant.

How to Grow Antennaria

It is best to plant Antennaria just below the soil, with a spacing of approximately 30 centimeters (one foot).

Cat’s ears should be sown out in late winter or early spring when a lightly frost is still possible.

Cat’s ears/Ladies-tobacco prefer to be grown in full sunlight.

The soil type can be poor but it should be dry.

When starting Antennaria off from seed indoors, the seeds should be given one to two months to germinate before they are planted outside in either the Autumn or spring.

Caring for Antennaria

Antennaria species such as Pussy toes are very easy to care for. The plant should be deadheaded following flowering to prevent them from taking over the garden.

Common Questions

How many members does the Antennaria genus have?

There are about 45 species in the Antennaria genus, which are often referred to as "pussytoes" due to their distinctive flower shape.

Do members of Antennaria make a good garden or landscaping plant?

Yes, Antennaria plants are popular in rock gardens and as groundcovers because they form dense mats and have unique, attractive flowers.

Which Antennaria species are most frequently grown by gardeners?

The species Antennaria plantaginifolia (Woman's Tobacco) and Antennaria dioica (Mountain Everlasting) are often grown for their foliage and flowers.

Are members of the Antennaria plant genus fragrant?

No, Antennaria plants are not typically fragrant.

What is the perfect location to grow Antennaria?

Antennaria plants prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained soil. They're very hardy and can tolerate poor soil and drought conditions.

Is Antennaria invasive in the USA, if so in which states?

ACurrently, Antennaria is not considered invasive in the USA.

How do I remove Antennaria plants from my garden?

Removing Antennaria involves uprooting the entire plant. Due to their mat-forming nature, you must ensure all parts of the plant are removed to prevent regrowth.

Summary

The Antennaria genus, part of the Asteraceae family, contains about 45 species of perennial plants, commonly known as Pussytoes. These plants, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, are known for their woolly, white flower heads that resemble a cat's paw.

Antennaria plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. They are drought-tolerant and can handle poor soil conditions. With their low-growing, mat-forming habit, they make an excellent ground cover, especially for rock gardens or sunny, dry areas of the garden. These plants are also ideal for butterfly gardens as they are a food source for the American painted lady butterfly.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on Antennaria. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow China aster and Bellis plants.