Antennaria dioica
Common pussytoes, Rose pussytoes, Cat's ears, Cat's foot, Life everlasting
Also known as Gnaphalium dioica
- Height × spread
- 0.2m × 0.2m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Spring
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This makes a prostrate carpet of rosettes though the leaves overlap each other quite extensively. They are coloured a soft grey-green, and are long, often with a broader spoon-shaped end (spathulate). The leaves are white and hairy on their underside and often appear to have a white rim. They are aromatic. In spring the flowers are carried on long stems. They form domed clusters of small pink or white daisies that turn beige with age. This enjoys sandy and rocky places that are open. It thrives in quite dry conditions and is well suited to a rock garden or scree bed. It can even be planted in crazy paving. The plant has medicinal uses and is diuretic.
- Flower colour
- Pink, White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Beige
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Prostrate
- Height
- 0.2m
- Spread
- 0.2m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Spring
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Ground cover, Bee attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during drought
After three or four weeks without rain, except for drought tolerant plants, those in the ground often get stressed. Adopt the habit of deep-watering one section of the garden each day. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Encourage plants to develop good root systems by giving occasional deep watering. Some plants, such as conifers and heathers, do not show much sign of distress so water these if in doubt.
Spring · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided in alternate years. Clumps may be divided into two or more pieces. Rhizomes can be cut whilst small bulbs or offsets are detached. The new plants can be grown in a container or planted in the ground.