Elephantopus carolinianus
A drought-tolerant southeastern United States native perennial in the Asteraceae with large sessile, spatulate leaves and dense heads of lavender disc florets, found in dry to well-drained soils in woodlands, forests, and edges from Virginia through the Coastal Plain and Piedmont.
Common Names
Carolina Elephantsfoot, Leafy Elephant's Foot
Summary
Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) is a herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae native to the eastern and southern United States. It grows 1–3 feet tall, with large basal leaves and dense clusters of disc-only flower heads on branched stems; flowers are lavender to white and bloom from July to October.
It tolerates dry to moderately moist, well-drained soil and can thrive in sun to part shade; in gardens it works as ground cover when massed and is suitable for native plant gardens, meadows, and woodland gardens, though it can spread aggressively. It attracts butterflies and moths, serves as a host plant to Cremastobombycia ignota, and propagates by seed.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12 inches-3 feet
Spread
24 inches-3 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4a-9b
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade, tolerant of some full sun.
Soil Type
Well-drained sandy soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
5.0-7.2, Moderately acid to neutral
Bloom Color
Lavender to white
Bloom Time
Fall
Foliage Color
Dark green
Fall Foliage Color
Dark Green, Maroonish (maroon/purplish)
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Rapid
Seasons of Interest
Summer and Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Raeuschel
- Publication
- Nom. ed. 3, 256. 1797
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asterales
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Subfamily
- Vernonioideae
- Tribe
- Vernonieae
- Genus
- Elephantopus