SafePlants

Woolly Pussytoes (Antennaria lanata)

Discover the charm of Woolly Pussytoes (Antennaria lanata), a captivating plant known for its soft, woolly appearance and compact form. This perennial herb, with its distinctive foliage and flower clusters, adds a touch of natural elegance to mountain meadows and gardens.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is known for its fine, woolly hairs covering the leaves and stems.
• The plant's common name, "catsfoot" or "cat's-foot", may also be of interest.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Antennaria lanata (Hook.) Greene
• Synonym: Antennaria villifera
• Common Names: Woolly pussytoes, woolly everlasting, catsfoot, cat's-foot, pussytoes
• Family: Daisy Family (Compositae), subfamily Asteroideae (formerly Aster Family)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Rank: Species

Distribution and Habitat

• Woolly Pussytoes thrive in mountain meadows.
• They can be found at elevations such as 2250 meters (7380 feet) near Libby Lake Trail in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness.
• Observed in locations like Easy Pass, North Cascades National Park and Blackwall Peak, Manning Provincial Park, BC.
• The plant commonly occurs on zonal to slightly moist sites on mountain tops.

Morphological Characteristics

• Habit: Native perennial herb with a woody base, forming clumps.
• Height: Typically grows to 1-8 inches.
• Leaves: Many grey, woolly, basal leaves, long spatula-shaped and tapering towards the base, measuring 2.5-10 cm (1-4 inches) long and 3-9 mm (1/8-3/8 inches) broad. Stem leaves are lance-shaped.
• Stems: Thick, white woolly stems. Flowering stems are erect and white-woolly.
• Inflorescence: Compact clusters of white flowers at the tips. Involucres are 5-8 mm high, white-woolly toward the usually greenish base.
• The plant also spreads by conspicuously arching woolly stolons up to 10 cm long. The stolons are covered with fine, woolly hairs.

Quirky Facts

• Woolly Pussytoes are said to resemble the underside of a cat's foot, which explains some of its common names.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• May be found growing alongside bluegrass, arrow-leaved groundsel, and arctic lupine in certain habitats.

Further Resources

• Dave's Garden: A community where gardeners share tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants.
• Discover Life: A page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Antennaria lanata.
• USDA: Information and related reference library.