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Smith, R.W.

Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium

Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (L.) Hilliard & B.L. Burtt

Sweet Everlasting, Rabbit-tobacco, Fragrant Cudweed

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PSOB3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Erect, cottony stem bears branched clusters of whitish-yellow, round, fragrant flower heads.

This species was formerly in the genus Gnaphalium, derived from the Greek gnaphallon ("tuft of the wool"), referring to the nature of the flower heads. It is now considered a "pseudo," or false, Gnaphalium.

From the Image Gallery

5 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Native Distribution: Alberta east to Nova Scotia, south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Nebraska and Minnesota.
Native Habitat: Dry clearings, fields, and edges of woods.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Supports Conservation Biological Control

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Native host plants for Painted Lady Butterfly
June 01, 2006
I am looking for host plants for the Painted Lady Butterfly that I can plant in my school's (I am a teacher) native plant/butterfly garden. As part of the curriculum, each spring the 1st grade raises...
view the full question and answer

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-06
Research By: TWC Staff

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