Native Plants

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Marcus, Joseph A.

Marshallia caespitosa

Marshallia caespitosa Nutt. ex DC.

Barbara's-buttons, Puffballs, White Barbara's-buttons, Barbara's Buttons

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: MACA7

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Barbaras Buttons is an upright perennial, usually 8-20 in., with solitary or several, unbranched stems. Dainty balls of white, fragrant flowers are borne on slender, leafless stalks arising from a rosette of narrow leaves.

From the Image Gallery

35 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall, often shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AR , KS , LA , MO , OK , TX
Native Distribution: KS to AR, LA & TX
Native Habitat: Variety of sandy or calcareous sites. Found in the eastern half of Texas west to Taylor, Val Verde, and DeWitt counties. Well-drained sand, loam, clay, or limestone.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Sandy or calcareous soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Limestone-based, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Barbara's-buttons is an upright perennial with solitary or several, unbranched stems. Dainty balls of white, fragrant flowers are borne on slender, leafless stalks arising from a rosette of narrow leaves.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Perennial garden, Rocky hillside, Rock gardens, Aromatic
Use Wildlife: Rabbits will eat the plant.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Nectar Source: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACU				FACU	FAC		UPL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0057 Collected May 18, 1990 in Bexar County by Lottie Millsaps

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-GV-2 Collected 2005-06-12 in Lampasas County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Marshallia caespitosa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Marshallia caespitosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Marshallia caespitosa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-29
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back