Divide pussytoes by lifting a rooted stolon in spring or early fall. Replant at the same depth. Stem cuttings are the harder, optional method.
Divide rooted stolons in spring or early fall
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring, or early fall while the soil is cool | Midsummer heat on a bare stolon |
| Piece | A rosette with roots already on the runner | A leafless runner with no roots |
| Depth | The same crown level it had in the mat | Leaving the piece on a hot driveway while you dig |
| Vs seed | Division for a faster, true mat | Sowing when you already have a plant to split |
Extension lists division and seed as the usual path. Division in spring is the home method. [1] Rosettes establish faster than seed. [2]
How do you propagate pussytoes?
Lift a rooted stolon section in spring or early fall and replant at the same depth. Seed is slower. Cuttings are the harder try.
How to divide a pussytoes mat
Stolons root a short distance from the mother plant and form a colony. [3]
- Water the mat the day before so the ground cuts clean.
- Lift a section that already has several growing tips and roots. Field forms also have a central taproot — keep some of it on the piece. [4]
- Replant immediately at the same depth. Firm and water once to settle.
- Keep the new piece from baking for a week, then return to sparse water.
Stem cuttings vs a nursery plug
A nursery plug or a rooted division is the sure start. Stem cuttings in late spring can root in a drained mix under a cover, but they are slow and rot easily if the mix stays wet. Take them only if you have no rooted stolon to lift. For seed, see Growing Pussytoes from Seed.
If a piece has no roots, leave it attached until a node takes — do not plant a bare runner and hope.
FAQ
Can I root a cutting in water?
No. A drained mix is the path, and even then cuttings are less sure than a rooted stolon. Water jars rot the woolly stems.
When do I divide a dead center?
In spring. Lift rooted pieces from the live edge, replant those, and discard the brown center.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/antennaria-dioica/ - [2] PlantNative -
https://plantnative.org/native-plants/pussys-toes-antennaria-plantaginifolia.htm - [3] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/antennaria-plantaginifolia/ - [4] Prairie Nursery -
https://www.prairienursery.com/field-pussytoes-antennaria-neglecta.html
This note is part of Antennaria Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors