How much sun does rosy pussytoes need?

Rosy pussytoes grows best in full sun but will also tolerate part sun, especially at higher elevations where light intensity is strong even with some shade.

How often should I water Antennaria rosea?

This plant prefers low water once established and handles dry spells well. Occasional moisture is fine, but it does not need regular irrigation in most garden settings.

When does rosy pussytoes bloom?

Rosy pussytoes typically flowers from May through July, producing small clustered blooms on short stems above its mat-forming foliage.

What pollinators visit rosy pussytoes?

Bees and beetles are the most common visitors to rosy pussytoes flowers, drawn to the clustered blooms during the late spring and summer flowering period.

Does rosy pussytoes stay green year round?

Yes, it keeps a low evergreen rosette of foliage through most seasons, though appearance can vary with snow cover and winter conditions in colder regions.

Is Rosy Pussytoes HOA-friendly?

Rosy Pussytoes is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Rosy Pussytoes

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Antennaria rosea

Last reviewed: September 2026

Antennaria rosea, or rosy pussytoes, is a low-growing forb that blooms from May through July in mountain meadows and open slopes across the western and northern United States. It forms tidy evergreen mats and tolerates dry, sunny sites once established.

Toxicity unknown

Rosy Pussytoes (Antennaria rosea) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

2"–8" H × 4"–12" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, ID and 12 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada Southern California Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Mojave Basin and Range Southern Rockies Arizona/New Mexico Mountains High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains

Rosy pussytoes is a low-growing native perennial that forms dense mats of silvery-green foliage. It produces small clusters of white to pinkish fuzzy flowers from May through July. This drought-tolerant groundcover stays evergreen and requires minimal water once established.

Growing Rosy Pussytoes

Grow Rosy Pussytoes in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 2 to 8 inches tall and spread 4 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Rosy Pussytoes is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Wildlife value

The fuzzy flowers attract native bees and beetles during the spring and summer blooming period. Its low, mat-forming growth provides shelter for small beneficial insects.

Common questions

How much sun does rosy pussytoes need?: Rosy pussytoes grows best in full sun but will also tolerate part sun, especially at higher elevations where light intensity is strong even with some shade.
How often should I water Antennaria rosea?: This plant prefers low water once established and handles dry spells well. Occasional moisture is fine, but it does not need regular irrigation in most garden settings.
When does rosy pussytoes bloom?: Rosy pussytoes typically flowers from May through July, producing small clustered blooms on short stems above its mat-forming foliage.
What pollinators visit rosy pussytoes?: Bees and beetles are the most common visitors to rosy pussytoes flowers, drawn to the clustered blooms during the late spring and summer flowering period.
Does rosy pussytoes stay green year round?: Yes, it keeps a low evergreen rosette of foliage through most seasons, though appearance can vary with snow cover and winter conditions in colder regions.
Is Rosy Pussytoes HOA-friendly?: Rosy Pussytoes is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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