How to Grow Pussytoes
Antennaria dioica
Pussytoes is a low-growing, mat-forming alpine perennial with silver-grey woolly foliage and small fluffy flower heads that resemble a cat's paw. Plant in full sun in very well-drained, gritty or poor soil — it rots in wet or rich conditions. Space plants 25-30 cm apart and let them spread to form a weed-suppressing carpet. It is fully hardy and drought-tolerant once established. Little maintenance is needed; simply tidy up any dead growth in early spring. An ideal plant for rock gardens, gravel beds, and wall tops.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Rarely needs feeding. On very poor soils, a light balanced granular fertiliser in spring is sufficient. Rich feeding encourages lush growth at the expense of the compact mat habit.
Watch For
- Root rot in wet or poorly drained soils
- Aphids on flower stems
Companions
Sedum, Thyme, Armeria, Aubretia
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. In partial shade the silver foliage loses its lustre and the compact mat habit becomes open and floppy.
Watering
Very low — drought-tolerant once established
Water sparingly. Once established, pussytoes is highly drought-tolerant and rarely needs supplemental watering. Overwatering or poor drainage causes fatal root rot.
Fertilizing
None — thrives in poor soil
Do not feed. Rich soil promotes lush, disease-prone growth at the expense of the compact silver mat. Plant in lean, gritty soil and leave it unfed.
Pruning
Minimal — tidy in early spring
No regular pruning is required. Remove any dead or brown growth in early spring before new growth emerges. Spent flower stems can be snipped off after blooming.
Spacing
25-30 cm apart
Space plants 25-30 cm apart. They will slowly spread by surface runners to fill gaps and form a dense, weed-suppressing mat within 2-3 years.
Support
None required
Pussytoes is low-growing and mat-forming; no staking or support is needed at any stage.
Growing Tips
Perfect drainage is essential
Pussytoes will rot quickly in wet or waterlogged soil. Plant in gritty, sandy, or poor soil and avoid enriching it. Raised beds, rock gardens, and gravel paths are ideal.
Do not feed
Rich soil produces floppy, disease-prone growth that loses the compact silver mat. Leave the soil poor — this is where pussytoes thrives.
Spreads gently by runners
Pussytoes spreads slowly by surface runners to form a mat. Trim back runners if it encroaches on smaller neighbours, or let it fill in gaps in a gravel bed.
