Piedmont Barbara’s Buttons is found in moist, well drained roadsides and fields from south-central Virginia to Florida. That said, it is truly our own wildflower as in NC, it is actually only reported in the very central counties of the state. A basal rosette of narrow leaves gives rise in early summer to slender, unbranched 1- to 2-foot stems bearing 1-inch delicate, fragrant, fluffy, spherical, bright white to pinkish “buttons”. Tolerant of dry conditions and happy in full sun and part shade, this is an un-fussy, non-invasive garden team player attractive to a range of pollinating insects! Piedmont Barbara’s Buttons was selected as the 2009 NC Wildflower of the Year (WFOY) by the NC Botanical Garden with the Garden Club of NC.
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Wednesday: 10-4, Thursday: 10-6, Friday – Saturday: 10-4, Sunday: 12-4
Marshallia obovata
Key Info
Scientific Name: Marshallia obovata (Walter) Beadle & F.E. Boynt. var. obovata
Common Names: Piedmont Barbara's-Buttons, Spoonshaped Barbara's Buttons, Spoonleaf Barbara's Buttons.
Family Names: Asteraceae (Composite, or Daisy Family)
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Flower Color: White
Special Characteristics: Tolerates dry conditions
Additional Info
Habit: Small clump-forming perrenial, with basal rosette.
Height: 1' - 2'
Spread: 1'
Soil Conditions: Average to dry moisture uncertain as to pH and texture.
Leaves: The basal rosette has up to 10 stem leaves, alternate, simple, and obovate! about 6 inches in length.
Flowers (or reproductive structures: Small (1 -inch) delicate, pinkish white flower in compact speherical head with prominent calyx; supported on 1- to 2-foot, unbranched stem arising from a basal rosette. fragrant.
Natural Distribution: roadsides, bogs, open pine forests
USDA Wetland Indicator Status in NC: not available
Pollination: Beetles, butterflies.
Wildlife Connections: Attracts bees, buterflies, and birds.
Propagation: By division and by seed.