This curious plant has woolly foliage and flowerheads that resemble those of Antennaria spp. (Pussytoes), Anaphalis margaritacea (Pearly Everlasting), Gamochaeta purpurea. (Early Cudweed), and some other members of the Aster family. Sweet Everlasting is more tall than Pussytoes and Early Cudweed, and its truncate-conical flowerheads are more narrow than the button-like flowerheads of Pearly Everlasting. There are other Pseudognaphalium spp. in the United States that are quite similar in appearance to Sweet Everlasting, but they have not been observed in Illinois. However, some of these species have been found in neighboring Indiana and other states further to the east. Sweet Everlasting's older scientific name is Gnaphalium obtusifolium (by which it is still commonly referred), but it has been reassigned to the genus Pseudognaphalium.

Sweet Everlasting is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include upland prairies, sand prairies, typical savannas and sandy savannas, fallow fields, and areas along railroads and roadsides. Disturbed dry areas with scant vegetation are preferred. Faunal Associations

Gnaphalium saxicola Fassett:
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Gnaphalium obtusifolium var. obtusifolium :
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Gnaphalium obtusifolium var. praecox Fernald:
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Gnaphalium obtusifolium L.:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Known solely from Wisconsin Dells area (part of the unglaciated driftless area of Wisconsin).

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Annuals or winter annuals (sometimes faintly fragrant), (10–)30–100 cm; taprooted. Stems white-tomentose, sometimes lightly so, usually not glandular, rarely glandular near bases. Leaf blades linear-lanceolate to elliptic or oblanceolate, 2.5–10 cm × 2–10 mm (relatively even-sized), bases not clasping, not decurrent, margins flat, faces bicolor, abaxial white-tomentose, adaxial green, usually glabrous or slightly glandular, sometimes with persistent light tomentum. Heads in corymbiform (sometimes rounded to elongate) arrays. Involucres broadly campanulate, 5–7 mm. Phyllaries in 4–6 series, white (opaque, usually shiny, sometimes dull), ovate to ovate-oblong, glabrous or tomentose (bases). Pistillate florets 38–96. Bisexual florets 4–8(–11). Cypselae ridged, smooth.

Gnaphalium obtusifolium Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 851. 1753; G. obtusifolium var. praecox Fernald

Comments: Dry, sandstone cliff ledges.

Gnaphalium obtusifolium (Sweet Everlasting)
(Also referred to as Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium; most short-tongued bees suck nectar, otherwise they suck nectar & collect pollen; other insects suck nectar; all observations are from Robertson, except for one observation from Moure & Hurd)

Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera sn

Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Augochlorella aurata sn, Augochlorella striata sn, Augochloropsis metallica metallica sn, Halictus confusus sn, Halictus ligatus sn cp fq, Lasioglossum imitatus sn, Lasioglossum obscurus sn, Lasioglossum pilosus pilosus (MH), Lasioglossum versatus sn fq, Paralictus platyparius sn; Colletidae (Colletinae): Colletes americana sn; Colletidae (Hylaeinae): Hylaeus affinis sn; Andrenidae (Andreninae): Andrena simplex sn

Wasps
Sphecidae (Crabroninae): Ectemnius atriceps, Ectemnius rufipes, Ectemnius trifasciatus, Lestica confluentus, Oxybelus mexicanus; Sphecidae (Larrinae): Ancistromma distincta; Sphecidae (Philanthinae): Cerceris clypeata, Cerceris compacta, Cerceris finitima, Eucerceris fulvipes; Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Ammophila kennedyi, Ammophila pictipennis, Eremnophila aureonotata; Vespidae: Polistes annularis, Polistes fuscata; Vespidae (Eumeninae): Euodynerus annulatus, Euodynerus boscii, Stenodynerus ammonia fq, Stenodynerus anormis, Stenodynerus histrionalis, Stenodynerus oculeus; Pompilidae: Anoplius americanus, Anoplius lepidus, Anoplius marginatus, Evagetes parvus; Chrysididae: Ceratochrysis perpulchra, Chrysis venusta, Holopyga ventrale; Ichneumonidae: Metopius pollinctorius; Braconidae: Chelonus sericeus

Flies
Syrphidae: Paragus tibialis, Syritta pipiens; Conopidae: Thecophora occidensis; Tachinidae: Chetogena claripennis, Copecrypta ruficauda, Cylindromyia fumipennis, Distichona varia, Gymnosoma fuliginosum, Lespesia archippivora, Medina barbata, Paradidyma singularis, Plagiomima spinosula, Siphosturmia phyciodis, Spallanzania hesperidarum; Sarcophagidae: Amobia aurifrons, Helicobia rapax fq, Ravinia anxia, Senotainia rubriventris; Calliphoridae: Cochliomyia macellaria, Lucilia illustris, Lucilia sericata; Muscidae: Musca domestica, Neomyia cornicina

Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Phyciodes tharos

Skippers
Hesperiidae: Atalopedes campestris

Moths
Ctenuchidae: Cisseps fulvicollis

Beetles
Cantharidae: Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 6 - 20

Comments: S2 in WI (1986).

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N2 - Imperiled

Rounded Global Status Rank: T2 - Imperiled

Reasons: Endemic to the dry, sandstone cliff ledges in the Wisconsin Dells area, its habitat is threatened by intensive human use.

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: T5 - Secure

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: T5 - Secure

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Comments: Area receives intensive human-use.

Biological Research Needs: Research needed on taxonomic status.

Needs: Seek protection of sandstone cliff ledges.

The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a friable soil containing sand or silt. A little shade is tolerated. The seeds require light to germinate.

Comments: May be a cliff ecotype; treated by Kartesz (1999) as Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium ssp. saxicola.

Comments: Kartesz (1999) recognizes Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium.