The cat's foot is endangered in the wild, but the bee-friendly perennial can become a home in the garden.
Common cat's paw (Antennaria dioica), also known as common cat's paw or dioecious cat's paw, was common in the wild until the 1950s. Today the plant is very rare in Germany and is under nature protection. The distribution area of the genus Antennaria extends over Europe, America and Asia. Antennaria grow above the tree line in the Rocky Mountains, but the perennials are also found in the Scandinavian countries, Greenland and Alaska. Although many species are evergreen, they withstand snow and frost very well. The cat's paw has been on the Red List of Endangered Species since 2005.
Cat's Paw - Short Info
In Germany, the plant grows in full sun and needs a low-lime and low-nitrogen soil. Heaths, poor and wet meadows, as well as paths are among the preferred habitats of the cat's paw. Antennaria diocia belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae). The up to 50 cm tallgrowing plant forms dense leaf rosettes on the ground. A distinction is made between male and female plants, each of which forms different flower heads, the hairiness of which led to the designation cat's paw.
Cat's Paw - location and growth habit
Perennial nurseries offer the cat's paw in its original form and in different varieties. The undemanding and small perennial also grows in the garden in sunny, lean locations such as wall crowns, rock and gravel gardens and on roofs. Butterflies and bees like to visit the flowers.
Antennaria is an evergreen, low ground cover that quickly forms a closed carpet with leaf rosettes and short stolons. The silver-green, felt-like hairy leaf rosettes are also visible in winter, in summer the fine hairs protect the leaves from drying out. The biennial perennial only develops basal leaves in the first year, the flowers only form in the second year. These are arranged in a basket shape at the end of the branching stems.
The slightly hairy stem stands upright on therosette and bears the flower heads at the branched end. Antennaria is dioecious, either male or female flowers are formed. Male heads are mostly white to light yellow, female flowers are bright pink to purple. Cat's Paw usually blooms from May to July.
| Common Cat's Paw (Antennaria dioica) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | carpet-like, erect flower stalks |
| Growth: | 5 - 50 cm |
| Growth: | 20 - 30 cm |
| Flowering: | May - July |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | sandy, loamy, low in lime and nitrogen |
The common cat's paw feels just as comfortable in the sunny rock garden as it does in the stone trough and on the top of a wall. The plant is also a real eye-catcher in a meager heather garden or in a Mediterranean-style garden. Antennaria is also perfect for green roofs.
Cat's Paw - suitable partner plants
- Stone herbs (Alyssum)
- Thyme (Thymus)
- Thrift (Armeria)
- Heath pink (Dianthus deltoides)
- Solid Rockrose (Helianthemum)
- Sedum plant
- Houseleek (Sempervivum)
- Blue fescue (Festuca glauca)
Planting and caring for cat paws
The cat's paw needs a location in full sun and well-drained, poor soil. Soils with loamy portions are thinned with sand. Only then will Antennaria not be pushed out by other species in the long run and can spread quickly. About 25 perennials are planted per square meter at a plant distance of 20 centimetres. The cat's paw does not need to be cut or fertilized. You can also be economical when watering, the perennial tolerates even high heat well.
Once the cushion perennial has found an ideal location, it spreads quickly. Then you have to tame them a little from time to time, maybe cut them out with a spade and transplant them. Spring or fall is the best time to divide and implement Antennaria. Dividing the perennial is the easiest way to propagate Antennaria. Seeding is the second option.
If the cat's foot spreads well but only produces few flowers, it probably doesn't have enough sun. If Antennaria does not bloom enough for a long time, the location is too shady overall. Then only transplanting helps.
Plants and care - in a nutshell
- sunny, dry location on poor soilfloor
- no pruning, no fertilization
- Propagation by division or seeding
- Replanting: 25 perennials / m²
Cat's Paw - Diseases and Pests
The cat's paw is a robust and easy-care plant. Not even snails eat the hairy leaves of Antennaria and there are hardly any other known pests or diseases. If the cushion perennial is too shady or too wet, this can result in root rot or fungal growth. If neighboring plants are infested with mites or aphids, transmission can rarely be avoided.
Treatment for fungus, aphids and powdery mildew
In the case of fungal infestation, which can often be recognized by the yellow leaves, the affected parts of the plant are removed as quickly as possible. Aphids can be easily rinsed off with a hard jet of water - this may have to be repeated several times. If Antennaria is infested with powdery mildew, spraying with a solution of nine parts water and one part milk will help. Repeat application every other day until mildew is gone.
Cat Paws - Popular Types and Varieties
Antennaria includes about 45 species. Most of them are evergreen and absolutely hardy. The growth height varies between 5 and 20 centimeters. Leaf and flower color are interesting for the combination in the bed.
| Art | Bloom | Height | Leaf / Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpathian Cat's Paw (Antennaria carpatica) | white-pink | 5 - 15 cm | woolly on both sides no runners |
| Woolly Cat's Paw (Antennaria dioica Borealis) | white | 5 - 10 cm | white-woolly short spurs |
| Alpenkatzenpfötchen (Antennaria alpina) | white | 2 - 20 cm | green bottom light |
| Plantain-Leaf Cat's Paw (Antennaria plantaginifolia) | white | 15 cm | large-leaved |
Popular Varieties
- Antennaria dioica 'Alex Duguid', pink, 10 cm
- Antennaria dioica 'Pearl Pillow' with tall stems and white, pearly flower buds
- Antennaria dioica 'Red Wonder' with strong flowers (dark red), up to 15 cm, silver-grey
- Antennaria dioica 'Rubra', silvery-pink, 10 cm, silvery-green, felty
- Antennaria dioica 'Alba', white, 10 cm, grey-green
- Antennaria dioica 'Nyewood, pink, 10 cm, silver-grey, flowers in May
- Antennaria dioica 'White Immortelle', white, 15cm, grey-green, particularly floriferous
Cat's paw - medicinal effect
In naturopathy, Antennaria dioica is used to treat and alleviate various ailments and diseases. The flower of the plant is used medicinally. Antennaria can be prepared as a tea, purchased as an ointment mix, in drops, or as a tincture. In the medical field one speaks of drugs and refers to the cat's paw as Antennariae dioicae flos.
The active ingredients of the cat's paw (Antennariae dioicae flos) include bitter substances, flavonoids, tannins and mucilage, resin and coumarins. The drug is attributed an antibiotic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, it is said to make it easier to cough up (produce expectoration). A tea is made from the dried flowers. This is used for indigestion and irritable stomach, complaints with bile and liver, diarrhea and cough. Antennaria flowers are, for example, components of ready-mixed bile and liver teas as well as tea mixtures for kidney and bladder problems.