Fauna
Plant

Sweet Everlasting

Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium

Also known as Rabbit Tobacco, Old Field Balsam, Life Everlasting, Fragrant Cudweed

Sweet everlasting stands out in dry pastures and sandy clearings with its woolly, silver-green stems and dense clusters of papery cream bracts that persist long after frost. Crushing its foliage releases a rich aroma reminiscent of maple syrup and warm vanilla, making it unmistakable in the field. Beyond its sensory charm, this native plant serves as a vital larval host for American lady caterpillars, which weave protective silken shelters among the upper leaves.

AromaticHost PlantNative Wildflower
Sweet Everlasting reference1 / 7
(c) Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandy Wolkenberg · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil nutrients
Predators
  • American lady caterpillars
  • White-tailed deer
  • Grasshoppers
ThreatsNatural forest succession, invasive weeds, and intensive agricultural cultivation
HabitatsOld fields, pastures, sandy roadsides, open woodlands, and dry prairies
Life span1–2 years (annual or biennial)
Classification
  1. OrderAsterales
  2. FamilyAsteraceae
  3. GenusPseudognaphalium
  4. SpeciesPseudognaphalium obtusifolium
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Scent Test: Gently rub a dried leaf between your fingers to experience the sweet maple-syrup fragrance.
  • Caterpillar Hunting: Inspect the upper stem clusters for messy silk webbing built by feeding American lady larvae.
  • Winter Spotting: Look for stiff, pale tan stems and persistent papery flower heads rising above snow cover.
Related species
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