Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

• full sun
• part shade

Tolerates part shade, but prefers full sun.

Soil conditions:

• requires damp soil

The foliage of plants will decline in dry soils. Will thrive in moist soils unsuited for other gray-green foliage plants, such as Artimesia.

Hardiness zones:

• 3 to 8

May be only marginally hardy in Zone 3.

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: moderately difficult

This plant is easy to grow in the proper moist conditions. However, all species, with the exception of A. triplenervis send out stolons that can overrun the garden.

Height: 1 to 3 feet

(Anaphalis triplinervis) var. intermedia (also called A. nepalensis) is generally less than 1 foot tall.

Spread: 1 to 2 feet

(Anaphalis triplinervis) var. intermedia (also called A. nepalensis) has a spread of only about 6 inches.

Bloom time:

• mid-summer
• late summer
• early fall

Flower color:

• yellow
• white

The plant's true flowers, which typically are yellow, are not its primary souce of interest. Rather, the plants are prized for their pearly white floral bracts.

Foliage color:

• medium green
• gray-green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape:

• cushion, mound or clump
• upright

The upright plants form cushions of foliage with time.

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

The blooms are borne in small- to medium-sized clusters rising above the foliage.

Special Considerations

Special characteristics:

• aggressive - All species, with the exception of A. triplenervis send out stolons that can overrun the garden.
• non-invasive
• not native to North America - Native to Asia.

Special uses:

• cut flowers
• dried flowers - The showy heads of pearly white floral bracts are dried for use in arrangements.

Growing Information

Varieties