Antennaria dioica

FamilyGenus: Antennarianative in Germany

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Species

interact

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Interactions

documented

About this species

A low, mat-forming, evergreen perennial native to Great Britain. Antennaria dioica produces tiny flower heads from May to September, thriving in full sun on acidic, nutrient-poor soils with moderate moisture. Its neat, ground-hugging foliage and long bloom period make it a charming component of rock gardens and dry grassland plantings.

Ecological network

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PollinationFlower visit

Ecological significance

A native species, Antennaria dioica is found in species-rich, open grasslands and heaths across Great Britain, where it contributes to the botanical diversity of these nutrient-poor habitats. It shows no invasive tendencies.

Annual cycle

Evergreen basal leaf rosettes persist year-round. New leaves push from the centre in early spring. From May to September, slender flowering stalks rise above the foliage, bearing clusters of tiny flower heads. After pollination, minute, plumed seeds develop and are shed in late summer and autumn, dispersing on the wind. The plants remain green through winter, with active growth resuming as temperatures rise in spring.

Standort & Merkmale

Light

Sonne

Moisture

Frisch (Mäßig feucht)

Soil

—

Flowering period

Mai – Sep

Bioregion

Continental

Growth form

Krautige Pflanze

Woodiness

Nicht verholzt

Leaf type

Breitblättrig

Leaf phenology

Immergrün

Plant height

0.115 m

Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)

Pflege & Anbau

Grow Antennaria dioica in full sun in a sharply drained, acidic, low-fertility soil – a gritty, sandy, or gravelly mix is ideal. Keep the root zone consistently moderately moist during the growing season, but avoid waterlogging, especially in winter. This plant is a light feeder; do not apply fertiliser, as rich soil reduces flowering and vigour. It is well-suited to rock gardens, alpine troughs, and front-of-border positions. Once established, it requires little attention beyond weeding and the removal of spent flower stems if desired. In heavy clay gardens, amend the soil with plenty of grit or grow in a raised bed. No pruning is necessary, though the evergreen mats can be tidied in spring.

Scientific profile

Antennaria dioica is a herbaceous, non-woody perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It forms compact, ground-hugging mats of broad, evergreen leaves that persist through winter. The foliage canopy reaches about 10–12 cm in height. The specific epithet 'dioica' indicates that male and female flowers occur on separate plants, and the tiny flower heads are carried on slender stalks from May to September. The seeds are extremely light (diaspore mass around 0.05 mg) and wind-dispersed. Ecologically, the species is a strong indicator of bright, acidic, and markedly nutrient-poor conditions. Its Ellenberg-type values confirm a preference for full sun, fresh soil moisture, an acid reaction, very low fertility, and moderately warm temperatures, while tolerating only slight disturbance.

Pollinators & visitors

7 Arten interagieren mit dieser Pflanze

Ancistrocerus trifasciatusLasioglossum calceatum Callophrys rubiCidnopus pilosusDysstroma citrataBombus pascuorum Coenonympha pamphilus

Other flower visitors

9 other species visit the flowers

Formica cuniculariaLasius niger Mononychus punctumalbumDilophus femoratusDrymeia hamataEmpis lividaMeligethes viridescensSericus brunneusThricops cunctans

Sources & data origin

•Interaktionsdaten via GloBI (CC-BY 4.0)

•pollinator_interactions

•FloraWeb / BfN

•EIVE 1.0 — Dengler et al. (2023), DOI: 10.3897/VCS.98324 (CC BY 4.0)

•GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — GBIF Secretariat (2024), DOI: 10.15468/39omei (CC BY 4.0)

•TRY Categorical Traits (ID3) — Kattge et al. (2012), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.3 (CC BY 3.0)

•TRY Global Spectrum (ID81) — Díaz et al. (2016/2021), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.81 (CC BY)

•Govaerts R et al. (2025) — World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) v14. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. DOI: 10.34885/xs7h-ze42 (CC BY 4.0)

All data is licensed under CC BY 4.0, CC0, or compatible terms. Attribution according to license conditions. Full source overview →