Anaphalis margaritacea

Sizes available: Landscape plug

Basics: zones 3-8, 12-24” x 12-24”, full sun to part shade, charming white "buttons" bloom on a branching structure in mid to late summer, likes well-drained soil, sandy or gravelly and on the lean side. Drought tolerant and likes well drained soil, but can take a moister soil in full sun.

Common names: Pearly Everlasting

Family: Asteraceae

Origin/Distribution: North America, Asia, native to Maine

Habitat: Very adaptable. Common along roadsides, fallow fields, meadows, and prairies as well as open woods, the edges of rivers and lakes (in full sun), and man-made or disturbed habitats.

More: Be prepared for the leaves to get munched and made into shelters by both American Lady, Vanessa virginiensis and Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui, caterpillars. They create silken webs around and among the leaves and stems. Your plants are used to this and will survive. Pearly Everlasting makes a good cut flower, in particular, for drying. It also has medicinal properties and has been used as a substitute for tobacco. This plant is dioecious so it's best planted in a group. Likes full sun but I have a good patch going in part shade. Tolerant of both drought and lean soil. Likes good drainage, however Go Botany says it can sometimes be found on wetland edges. This plant is stoloniferous and a strong spreader under the right conditions.

Nursery: Landscape plugs from New Moon

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons