Pearly Everlasting is a member of the sunflower family native to Colorado as well as much of the rest of the United States and Canada. While it is not the 6 foot tall yellow sunflower we often imagine, it is still a tall flower, rising up to 3 feet with small white flowers. This perennial  is easy to grow in the Colorado Front Range, North as it can handle full sun and requires very little water once established. Many different pollinators including butterflies and bees enjoy feeding from its showy flowers.

Pearly Everlasting is recognized as especially important to Painted Lady and American Lady butterflies as well as skippers another group of butterflies.  Pearly Everlasting flowers provide nectar to adult butterflies, and they feed the larval caterpillars with their leaves.

ScientificName: Cotoneaster margaritacea

Habitat Mosaics Plan: Painted Lady Butterfly, Colorado Front Range, North

Fun Fact: There are over 100 species of Anaphalis in India, south Asia, and Europe, but only one, Anaphalis maragaritacea, Pearly Everlasting, is native to the North America.

Pearly Everlasting is often used in dried flower arrangements because it looks more delicate than it actually is, making it practical and pretty, and they last a long time, hence the moniker "everlasting".

Pearly Everlasting has been used by Native American tribes in several ways.  Teas brewed from the plant helped with rheumatism, headaches and colds. In times of famine, it was used to suppress the appetite of adults so more food could be given to growing children.

Learn More:

Pearly Everlasting (Cotonoeaster margaritacea) - US Forest Service

Pearly Everlasting attracting tiny pollinators - Emily Goldman

Pearly Everlasting Anaphalis margaritaceae - Brandeis University

Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritaceae) - Plant of the Week, US Forest Service

Pearly Everlasting - MPG North