Antennaria plantaginifolia (Pussytoes)

Antennaria plantaginifolia, also called pussytoes, mouse-ears, and woman's tobacco, is a low-growing fuzzy perennial groundcover plant native to much of the eastern United States. Typically found in dry, sandy or rocky soils, and especially those with good drainage like sloped forest areas, pussytoes draws its name from the appearance of its developing flowers which, when bunched close together, resemble the fuzzy paws of a kitten. Antennaria plantaginifolia is resistant to deer and rabbit damage, as some plant parts contain chemicals that are poisonous or distasteful, and tolerates full sun to part shade.

Pussytoes, when not in flower, is typically found as a mat of hairy, silvery-green leaves that spread by runners, and not growing much taller than two or three inches. When flowering in the mid-spring to early summer, mouse-ears can reach about six inches in height, with small, white and pink blooms that are highly attractive to a number of pollinators, but especially butterflies, including the American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) which almost exclusively feeds on pussytoes nectar. A low-growing, low-maintenance groundcover, pussytoes is an excellent addition to the home landscape, where it can be used in rock gardens, as a bed filler, or even as a lawn replacement in especially dry, nutrient poor areas.