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.
NURSERY HOURS
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.
Southeastern Native Plant Nursery and Landscaping
Our Hours
Thursday: 10-6
Friday and Saturday: 10-4
Sunday: 12-4
Sunday: 12-4
And by appointment
Rachel’s Native Plants is located at The Plant
© COPYRIGHT 2023 RACHEL’S NATIVE PLANTS