Plant · GBIF taxon 4926336
pearly everlasting
Anaphalis margaritaceaAlso known as Western Pearly Everlasting, Cotton Weed, Silver Button
Pearly everlasting blankets dry fields and sunny slopes with clumps of narrow, cottony foliage that conserves moisture in gravelly soils. Dense clusters of small flowerheads display bright yellow centers wrapped in crisp, papery white bracts that retain their shape long after drying. These hardy perennials serve as a primary host plant for American painted lady butterflies, whose caterpillars weave protective silk shelters among the woolly upper leaves.
PerennialWildflowerButterfly Host
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
- American Painted Lady Caterpillar
- Mammalian Herbivores
- Insect Borers
ThreatsHabitat loss from urban development, invasive plant competition
HabitatsDry fields, roadsides, open pine forests, alpine meadows, gravelly clearings
Life spanPerennial (5-10+ years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAsteraceae
- SpeciesAnaphalis margaritacea
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe and admire at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Host Plant Seeking: Search woolly leaves in midsummer for tiny webbed caterpillar nests of the American painted lady butterfly.
- Habitat Spotting: Look for greyish, felted stems in full sun along gravelly road margins and mountain trails.
- Floral Identification: Gently feel the bloom clusters to notice the dry, papery texture of the bright white bracts.
Host Plant (c) Fyn Kynd, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Fyn Kynd · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion SAplants / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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