Elephantopus elatus

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Elephant's-foot

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Plant Specifics

Form:Flower
Size:2.0-3.5 ft tall by .75-1.5 ft wide
Life Span:Short-lived perennial
Flower Color:White,lavender
Phenology:Overwinters as a basal rosette. Flowers spring-fall.
Noted for:Showy flowers, Interesting foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:Meadows and wildflower gardens.
Propagation:Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.
Availability:Native nurseries
Light: Full Sun,  Part Shade,  Shade
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
 (Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods)
Moisture Tolerance: Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or other substrate:Sand
Soil pH:Acidic to neutral

Ecology

Wildlife:
Insects:
  

Attracts various pollinators, especially bees..  Documented native bees include Azcgochlora pura, Augochlorella aurata, Azegochloropsis metallica, Anthidiellum perplexurn, Megachile albitarsis, M. brevis pseudobrevis and M. xylocopoides (Deyrup et al. 2002).

Attracts butterflies including skippers, swallowtails, and hairstreaks.

Native Habitats:Flatwoods, sandhill, ruderal areas, cutthroat seep, wet prairie.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 8A 8B 9A 9B 

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures

Comments

General Comments:Called elephant's foot because of the flat basal leaf formation.