Asteraceae Antennaria howellii
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Family Name
Asteraceae
Common Name
Howell’s pussytoes
Description
Antennaria howellii is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae family. It forms low mats or small tufts from a fibrous, sometimes shallow rhizomatous root system, allowing for asexual reproduction and slow vegetative spread. The stems are generally simple, erect, and slender, ranging from 5–25 cm in height, and are covered with fine, woolly hairs (notable pubescence). Basal leaves are spatulate to oblong, 1–6 cm long and 3–10 mm wide, with entire margins, a gray-green upper surface, and a densely white, woolly underside. Cauline leaves are much smaller, linear to narrowly lanceolate, and often reduced in size up the stem. Antennaria howellii is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Flowering occurs from May to July. Numerous small, compact flower heads are arranged in clustered inflorescences with usually 2–8 terminal, discoid flower heads. The involucre is composed of several series of overlapping bracts (phyllaries) that are dry, papery, and white to pale brown with a silky texture, forming a rounded, bell-shaped structure around the flower base, giving the flower clusters a “pussytoe” appearance. The florets are small, tubular, usually white to pale pink or cream. Stamens are present in male florets with slender filaments and anthers; female florets have a pistil with a bifurcated style. The fruit is a small achene about 1 to 2 millimeters long, topped with a pappus of white, silky hairs that aid in wind dispersal. Seeds mature in mid to late summer. Howell’s pussytoes is native to South Dakota, occurring in dry prairies, open woodlands, rocky bluffs, and sandy soils, and is distributed statewide but is more common in western and northern regions.
Horticulture Notes
Seed Collection: Seeds are mature when the white pappus bristles are fully expanded and the achenes easily detach—usually by midsummer.
Germination: Sow seeds in late fall or spring; germination is enhanced by exposure to light and cold stratification for several weeks.
Vegetative Propagation: Commonly propagated by division of rhizomes or rooted basal rosettes.
Soils: Prefers well-drained, sandy, or rocky soils; tolerates poor fertility.
Light: Thrives in full sun to light shade.
Water: Drought-tolerant; requires minimal supplemental water once established.
Additional Notes
Howell’s pussytoes is native and valued in horticulture for ground cover, especially in dry or sandy sites. It is not toxic to humans and is important to native pollinators, especially early-season bees and butterflies. Some Antennaria species have minor traditional medicinal uses among Indigenous peoples, mainly as poultices or teas for respiratory issues.