Description

Anaphalis – Pearly everlasting

There are about 100 species of spreading to upright perennials growing anywhere from 6” to 30” tall some being evergreen, in this genus.  They derive from dry slopes, dry forest, sunny riverbanks or moist riverbanks in the Northern Hemisphere and in high altitudes in the tropics.  It produces narrow lance shaped woolly haired almost cobwebbed gray foliage.  It bears many tiny white ¼-1” wide flower heads that group together to form papery everlasting corymbs.  Good for drying or as cut flowers. Grow in full sun or partial shade in moderately fertile gritty reasonable well-drained soil that does not dry out in summer.  Divide in early spring. Prone to stem rot, rust, and Septoria leaf spot. Anaphalis margaritacea – This erect clump forming perennial grows 2’ feet tall and in breadth, and derives from Northeastern Asia and North America. It spreads by runners.  It produces leafy stems covered by lance shaped mid green leaves 3-5 ½” long with wooly undersides.  From mid summer to early autumn it bears dense groups of tiny yellow flowers forming a head about 6” across surround by white bracts.  This species tolerates drought better than others. Zones 4-8